Somali construction boom in Mogadishu gives women high ambitions

In Somalia, construction in the capital city, Mogadishu grew from the ashes of a severe past, Fathi Mohammad Abdi and Saadia Ahmad Omar also provides unexpected opportunities.

Two young women are monitoring the construction of a 10-storey housing complex in the Tale of the city’s Hodan district of the city.

By wearing hard hats, they walk their way with construction materials, instructing the staff group – all men.

“When I started, people doubt me,” 24-year-old MS Abdi, Abdi, Arkan Engineering Service General Director of Engineering, Somalia’s construction company, BBC.

“They will ask:” How can we trust a house built? How can I trust my money and property with a young women’s engineer? “”

He and his counterpart MS Omar used engineers over the past five years.

“Mogadishu needs us,” says MS Omar, who is 24 years old. “When you were young, this city was in chaos. Now it is a part of reconstruction.”

Somalia, the former Italian colony, had a civil war after the Deduction of the President Siad Barre’s government in January 1991.

Still, now, the wounds of the war are still visible – as in the central district of the Shannel, where the bombing buildings are bombed. However, the ruins are hidden or are replaced by tall office complexes and apartments and flats and a sky line lined with cranes and scanned and scanned.

Both young women were born during the civil war and witnessed the division of their countries. Although many Somalis chose to leave, they remained a rebellion by al-Qaeda al-Qaeda al-Shabab, rebellious and reconstructed by the passion of reconstruction.

“I think that women have more chances in this area, there is no work to do so much to do so and do it. This creates a place for us,” he said.

Chairman of the Association of Somali Engineers Ibrahim Abdi Heays, high demand for qualified specialists, changing the fact that Somalia is traditionally slowed in a male community.

“The workload with a large number of continued infrastructure, energy and technology projects increased significantly. As a result, the association emphasizes that women are not more than participating in women, emphasizing that it is important to fill critical gaps,” It is 34 years old.

“The Association believes that it helps to fulfill the growing demand not only to give strength to engineering women, but also brings various prospects and innovative solutions to the industry.”

According to the office of Mogadishu, over the past five years, more than 6,000 buildings have been built in the city’s landscape.

“Security improved in Mogadishu, caused high-rise and trade buildings,” said Salah Hassan Omar.

Nevertheless, MS Abdi and MS have never been an easy way for Omar, and only 5% of engineers are women and often have an opportunity for mentoring.

“When I applied for the experience, most companies rejected me,” said MS Omar. “They did not think that a woman could resolve the physical demands of engineering. I gave me a chance to someone three months ago.”

Today, both are among the most well-known women’s engineers in Mogadishu, who controls a project of more than 30 multimillion dollars.

“The city is now higher in tall buildings and modern infrastructure, in a different way from the mogadish of the past,” MS Abdi proudly says.

But everyone is not happy with the transformation. Veteran architect Siidow Cabdulle Bololaay loses the history of the city.

“Once once, the buildings that hurt the Somali before the war, but also attracted attention to the BBC, because of the Italian architecture, which is rare in Africa at that time. “The planning of Mogadishu was high.”

Mr Boolay also has a security concern: “Sand used in Mogadişu’s buildings is saline.”

Sumaline is a long coastal strip of sand, a lot of time to make cement, and in many cases, a high-salt content can cause steel corrosion because of a restricted experience by international building standards.

“These tall buildings are designed to endure fire or strong rain and are designed during security reviews for tenants. Many of these buildings have firefighters and proper electrical installations,” it is clearly frustrating.

He is cautious from the pace built of buildings, which is in line with quality.

For years, they did not have rules that caused concern about structural integrity.

Mr. Omar, from the mayor, this work was accepted until three years ago and said that nothing about these buildings could be done.

But now “quality control and no one will build a building without it.”

“We (as well as), we are preparing new laws that will determine where high-rise buildings will be built and the establishment of residential houses.”

Although the rules are in place, there are concerns – there are no frequent tracking checks due to the speed of the building boom.

Mogadishu University of Plasma, MS Abdi and MS Omar, who graduated from the Faculty of Civil Engineering, was approved by the local authorities under all projects.

The rapid growth of construction projects applies to the Diaspora investments, as well as improved security

According to the World Bank, money transfers amounted to 16.7% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2022 – something that gives architects and engineers.

However, rapid urbanization was also subject to mogadish infrastructure problems – it does not have the right sewer system and unregulated well drilling risks.

Christophe Hodder, the UN climate security and ecological adviser, warns that the unverified construction boom can lead to long-term environmental consequences.

“We need a coordinated approach to water management or have a risk of crisis in the future.

The government is working with international organizations, the new sewer system works on a new sewer system, but its implementation may demolish existing buildings – may require a controversial action that can remove residents and enterprises.

Mr. Hodder, there is a high population density in Mogadishu – people crawling into the city through the drought and conflict.

The increase in the city’s population, especially in the slum areas, poverty and public differences will increase further.

Despite these difficulties, Mogadishu’s future seems promising. The city is trying to implement the rules of urban planing, to develop infrastructure and provide sustainable growth.

Even the Islamist Armed group of Al-Shabab’s bombings – warriors, politicians often inclined to target Plush Hotels – the Somali Engineers Union does not receive the enthusiasm.

Mr. Heeyle acknowledges that the buildings can be agitating for the destruction of architects and engineers, but Somalis was strong – especially those who read engineering.

“Many explosions occurred; our dreams have not stopped. Today, we live a collapsing engineering profession. This means that it means.”

And the passion is that in five years, Mogadishu will not be a modern city not only, but also the post-conflict reconstruction model.

“I believe that Mogadishu is a different city than in the 1990s; the city has changed to a new style and the development of mogadi is in the new world,” Ms Omar said.

“When I saw the buildings I walked and built on the streets, I was proud. We do not only build structures; we hope.”

Ms. Abdi added: “We prove that women can not only design buildings, but also lead in leading projects and city.”