Kigali – It is a great honor for us as a company to participate in the Global Mobile Telecommunication Conference (MWC GSMA 2025), held in the capital of Rwanda, Kigali. This conference was organized by the GSMA, the association representing mobile network operators worldwide, in collaboration with the Ministry of Technology of Rwanda.

This conference, one of the largest for discussing the transformations and future of technology in the African continent, brought together leaders from telecommunications companies, technology innovators, and institutions involved in technology policy development. They collectively deliberated on how to accelerate the digital transformation for Africa.

Telesom was among the select companies with a speaking platform at the forum. Eng. Ali Omar Bosir, Head of the Research and Innovation Office at Telesom Group, presented on the company’s commitment to participating in the journey of modern technology. He highlighted the role telecommunications companies can play in natural disaster preparedness and early warning delivery, as well as the utilization of Artificial Intelligence (AI), which is currently the most dynamic and highly competitive area in global technology.

Telesom, which played an active role in the various discussions of the conference, also showcased its pioneering role in the required transition towards environmentally friendly technologies that reduce carbon emissions. This future-oriented approach will involve implementing systems to measure carbon footprint, making environmental conservation a core principle.

It is noteworthy that Telesom has taken the lead in achieving this design, having already connected the entire country to a modern telecommunications network. Similarly, IoT and ZAAD services play a tangible role for stakeholders seeking to realize these advancements, potentially positioning Somaliland as a leading African nation in its implementation.

This MWC 2025 conference focused on the development of the African continent, emphasizing the role of modern technology. Discussions covered how enhanced connectivity and mobile services can boost economic and social progress, the impact and opportunities of modern technologies like AI, and new innovations at the intersection of technology and finance (Fintech).

In conclusion, Telesom’s participation in MWC 2025 once again demonstrates the company’s commitment to community development and keeping pace with global technological changes.

Hargeisa – The Central Bank of the Republic of Somaliland has announced a major regulatory initiative for its financial sector, launching a new registration and licensing process for all currency exchange operators effective October 18, 2025.

The initiative is enacted under the authority of the Central Bank Law No. 54/2012 and the Foreign Currency Exchange Regulation No. 03/2024, and is consistent with the free market principles enshrined in Somaliland’s constitution.

According to the Central Bank, the primary goals of this move are to:

· Protect the value of the Somaliland Shilling.
· Eliminate black market activities.
· Ensure fairness, equality, and transparency within the currency exchange market.

To achieve these objectives, the new framework will categorize exchange operators into different tiers based on their financial capacity and impact on the national economy. It also enhances oversight of transactions to guarantee efficient and accessible services for both Somaliland Shilling and US Dollar exchanges.

A key requirement mandates that licensed operators must provide both currencies to the public. This measure is designed to prevent exploitative practices, such as hoarding hard currency (US Dollars) and diverting it to the black market, which imposes additional costs on consumers.

The Central Bank will grant licenses exclusively to individuals and entities that meet its strict regulatory standards. License renewals are mandatory, with no exemptions permitted.

The Bank emphasized its collaborative approach, noting that it worked with the WADAJIR Exchange Operators Association in developing these reforms. The public is encouraged to direct any concerns through official legal channels.

All exchange operators with expired licenses are reminded that the renewal deadline is October 30, 2025. The Central Bank has stated that failure to comply will result in the automatic forfeiture of existing licenses.

This comprehensive initiative underscores Somaliland’s commitment to building a modern, transparent, and reliable financial system, thereby ensuring greater economic stability and public trust in the formal currency exchange market

Ahmed Osman Guelleh built a logistics and beverage empire around Djibouti’s ports and Somaliland’s Coca-Cola plant. Now competition is testing his hold.

The logistics side came first. Through GSK Group, Guelleh operated across the services that surround Djibouti’s port complex and Ethiopia-facing transit routes: agency work for carriers, freight forwarding and storage. His operating footprint was tied directly to the country’s maritime economy at a time when Djibouti became a critical shipping hub.

Manufacturing followed. In 2010, he founded Somaliland Beverage Industries (SBI) and, two years later, opened a Coca-Cola plant on the outskirts of Hargeisa. At the time, it was billed as the largest industrial investment in Somaliland. The move pushed his influence beyond shipping and into consumer goods, giving him a stake in a high-volume category with steady cash flow and broad market reach.

As his influence grew, so did scrutiny. Competitors and industry insiders have long argued that Guelleh used his access to logistics choke points to secure contracts, storage and distribution advantages. He developed a reputation as a “gatekeeper” in port services and beverage distribution, with much of his market power resting on proximity to key infrastructure rather than public visibility.

In recent years, that dynamic has shifted. His once-stable position has been tested by changes in Djibouti’s political and commercial environment, including new logistics operators and external investors entering the market. People familiar with his group say the bottling business in Somaliland has become a central pillar of his operations, while his logistics interests are being repositioned toward Gulf-linked partnerships and less politically sensitive corridors.

Throughout this period, Guelleh has shown a consistent instinct for assets positioned close to essential demand. Beverages fit that profile. SBI’s Hargeisa plant anchors a product line—Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite and bottled water—that moves reliably through established trucking lanes and into fast-growing urban markets. The facility has become a notable industrial employer in Somaliland and a rare example of manufacturing investment with regional reach.

The larger question is how durable his position will be. Djibouti’s logistics sector is more competitive than at any point in the past decade, and the beverage industry is undergoing consolidation as major bottlers tighten their African portfolios. In such an environment, owner-operators like Guelleh must compete on execution and reliability, not just access.

There is still opportunity. The Horn of Africa remains one of the most strategically located trade corridors in the world, and its consumer base is expanding rapidly. But the old advantages of informal influence and privileged relationships are weakening. For Guelleh, the next phase of his career will depend less on proximity to power and more on operational discipline: efficiency at ports, dependable distribution, stable cash cycles and predictable performance.

If he succeeds in adapting, his story could mark a shift from relationship-driven power to results-driven competition in one of Africa’s most strategically sensitive markets. If he does not, his business network may become a case study in how influence without operational depth struggles to survive in a changing regional economy.