Female engineers help ​rebuild Mogadishu

Updated June ⁢15, 2025
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Mogadishu ‌is experiencing a construction boom as⁣ it recovers from a ⁤violent past, ⁢creating opportunities for women like Fathi Mohamed Abdi and Saadia Ahmed Omar.

The ‌two engineers are overseeing the construction⁤ of ‌a 10-story apartment complex⁣ in the Hodan district.

Navigating the construction site in hard hats, they direct a team of⁤ male‌ workers.

Abdi, ⁢the chief operating officer of Arkan ⁣Engineering Services, ‍saeid that⁢ at ‍the beginning of her career,‌ people ⁣doubted her‌ abilities⁤ as ⁣she was ⁢a woman.

Abdi and Omar have been working as engineers for​ five years.

Omar said ⁤that Mogadishu‍ needs them, and‌ they are ​part of the city’s reconstruction.

Somalia has‍ been in a state of civil war as 1991. ⁣Scars of the⁢ war ‍are still visible, but⁤ new construction⁣ is ⁣beginning to hide or replace the ruins.

Both women were born during the civil war and ‌stayed⁣ in Somalia to help rebuild ‌it, despite the⁣ ongoing insurgency⁣ by al-Shabab.

Omar⁤ believes that‍ women are getting more opportunities in ​the field because there is ⁣a lot of work and not⁢ enough professionals.

Ibrahim Abdi Heyle, chairman ‌of the Somali engineers ⁤Association, said that the ⁢high demand for ⁣skilled⁢ professionals is leading to change, even if slowly,⁣ in Somalia’s‌ male-dominated society.

Heyle said that the association encourages greater participation​ from⁢ women,emphasizing that ⁢they are vital in filling critical gaps​ in⁣ the workforce and bringing diverse perspectives to the industry.

According‌ to the mayor of mogadishu’s ⁤office, over 6,000​ buildings have ⁤been⁢ constructed in the last five years.

Salah Hassan Omar, the mayor’s spokesperson, said that ⁤security in Mogadishu has improved, leading to an increase in construction.

Abdi and⁣ Omar have faced challenges,‍ as only⁣ 5% of engineers are women, and mentorship⁣ opportunities are scarce.

Omar said that she⁢ was ‌rejected ⁤by most companies when ​she applied for internships because they did not think a ⁢woman could handle the physical demands of engineering.

Today, Abdi and Omar are among the most ⁢recognized female engineers in⁢ Mogadishu, having overseen more than 30 multimillion-dollar projects.

Abdi said that the city is ⁤now home to taller buildings and modern‍ infrastructure, a stark contrast to the Mogadishu ‍of the past.

What’s next

As Mogadishu continues to rebuild, the contributions of female⁣ engineers like ⁢Fathi Mohamed Abdi ‌and Saadia ‍Ahmed Omar ‍will likely play an increasingly ⁤significant role in shaping the city’s future.