Nairobi, Kenya — Somalia has reaffirmed its commitment to environmental protection, resilience building, and regional cooperation at the 20th African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN), currently underway in Nairobi, Kenya.

The country is represented by Lt. Gen. Bashir Mohamed Jama, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, who joined fellow African ministers and key international partners in tackling the continent’s most pressing environmental challenges.

The conference, convened under the theme of advancing collective action against climate threats, brings together representatives from African Union member states, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the African Union Commission (AUC), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

In his remarks, Lt. Gen. Bashir highlighted Somalia’s firsthand experience with extreme climate events, including recurrent droughts, devastating floods, and desertification—disasters that continue to displace communities and undermine livelihoods across the Horn of Africa.

“Somalia is on the frontline of the climate crisis. We are living the consequences daily, and we call for fair, timely, and needs-based climate financing mechanisms to support adaptation and mitigation efforts,” Lt. Gen. Bashir said.

The Somali delegation emphasized the importance of ensuring that global climate financing mechanisms prioritize vulnerable and conflict-affected nations like Somalia. Lt. Gen. Bashir also underscored the role of regional solidarity in confronting transboundary challenges such as water scarcity, deforestation, and biodiversity loss.

Somalia’s active engagement at AMCEN reflects its broader environmental and policy agenda, which includes implementing the National Climate Change Policy, strengthening partnerships with international donors, and aligning with the African Union’s Green Recovery Action Plan.

The Nairobi summit is expected to culminate in a unified African position for the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Brazil. For Somalia, the forum offers a platform not only to spotlight its vulnerability but also to assert its leadership in pushing for climate justice and sustainable development across East Africa.