By Hassan Adan
Somalia is turning to artificial intelligence to drive innovation and economic growth, as academics and policymakers gathered at SIMAD University to discuss how emerging technologies could reshape the country’s future.
The forum, organized by the university’s AI Institute in collaboration with its Innovation Lab to mark World Creativity and Innovation Day, brought together experts, government officials and students under the theme “Creativity in the Age of AI”.
Participants said Somalia must move quickly to equip its workforce with practical AI skills and align its education system with technological change, warning that delays could widen the gap with more advanced economies.
“Artificial intelligence is already transforming how problems are solved and how businesses operate,” one speaker said, calling for stronger links between academia, industry and government.
Yaxye bukar, director of the university’s AI Institute, said Somalia has an opportunity to position itself early if it invests in skills and innovation.
“We are not late to AI — we are at the right moment to build systems that reflect our local needs,” he said. “What is required now is practical training, collaboration and the confidence to develop solutions from within.”
The discussion comes as Somalia deepens its engagement with international technology partners.
Earlier this week, the federal government signed a satellite cooperation agreement with China during the NewSpace Africa Conference 2026, aimed at expanding the use of space-based data for development.
The deal, signed with China Centre for Resources Satellite Data and Application, is expected to support sectors such as agriculture, climate monitoring and urban planning through improved access to satellite imagery and data.
Officials say the agreement will strengthen technical cooperation and enable Somalia to make more data-driven decisions, complementing domestic efforts to build digital capacity.
Analysts note that the combination of artificial intelligence and satellite technology could offer practical solutions to some of Somalia’s most pressing challenges, including food security and disaster management.
At the SIMAD forum, speakers stressed that while international partnerships provide critical infrastructure and expertise, local innovation ecosystems will be key to turning those opportunities into tangible outcomes.
Several participants said the priority now is implementation, pointing to the need for investment in skills training, research and start-ups to ensure the benefits of new technologies are felt beyond conference rooms.
