Somalia Orders Fuel Dealers to Cap Prices Amid Hardship Mogadishu, Somalia — The federal government has directed fuel merchants to adjust pump prices in line with the population’s shrinking purchasing power, according to local reports released Thursday. Director General Mohamed Hashi Arabey of the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources delivered the order in a nationwide broadcast, telling transport operators and wholesale distributors they must “strictly consider current economic realities. ” The instruction, issued with immediate effect, marks the first public intervention in the retail energy market since early 2025.
Official statements indicate the measure aims to shield commuters and logistics firms from abrupt price swings that have pushed passenger fares and food — delivery costs upward in recent weeks. Energy expenses account for a sizeable share of household budgets in the Horn of Africa nation, where most electricity is generated by diesel-powered mini-grids. Regional officials confirmed that ministry teams will monitor filling stations in Mogadishu, Kismayo, and Bosaso to ensure merchants adopt “fair, transparent pricing models.
” No specific ceiling was announced; however, traders who ignore the warning risk unspecified “regulatory action,” sources close to the matter.
The government stated in a communiqué that “commercial success must not come at the expense of vulnerable citizens,” underscoring its broader push to steady the shilling and slow double-digit inflation. Further details are expected once the ministry concludes a scheduled meeting with the Somali Petroleum Importers Association early next week.
Source: sonna.
