MOGADISHU (Kaab TV) – Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has appointed Ambassador Mohamed Ali Nur as the new Manager of Mogadishu Port.
A decree issued by the Office of the Minister removed the former director, Ahmed Washington, from his position.
Mohamed Ali Nur previously served as Somalia’s ambassador to Nairobi, Kenya. He hails from the Abgaal clan, the same clan as President Hassan Sheikh.
Popularly known as “Ameriko,” Mohamed Ali Nur once ran for Somalia’s presidency, although he received no votes from members of parliament.
He has been accused of widespread corruption during his time at the Somali Embassy in Nairobi, with allegations that even after leaving the post, he withdrew funds from the embassy’s accounts, leaving them empty for his successor.
The Somali Embassy in Nairobi is among the most lucrative diplomatic missions, generating significant income through Somali passports and other official documents sought by the Somali public.
Kenya hosts millions of Somalis, many of them refugees, although the country is also home to a large Somali business community with significant investments.
MOGADISHU SEAPORT
Mogadishu port is Somalia’s busiest seaport and remains one of the country’s largest sources of state revenue.
For decades, the customs system at the port has lacked transparency, creating opportunities for politically connected elites, business cartels, and officials to skim off revenues or under-declare imports.
According to insiders, many traders routinely evade duty payments by colluding with port authorities—turning unpaid taxes into instant profits.
Since 2014, the Turkish company Albayrak has managed operations and introduced some modernization.
However, allegations of opaque revenue-sharing persist, with claims that political elites benefit disproportionately.
The port has also been linked to the movement of arms, counterfeit goods, and untaxed commodities, enriching smugglers and corrupt networks.
The Somali federal government, however, consistently denies these accusations.