Mogadishu cafe boom fuels retail growth as diaspora returns
A rapidly expanding coffee shop sector in Mogadishu is creating youth employment and acting as a catalyst for broader commercial real estate development in the Somali capital.
Improved security in Mogadishu and the return of the Somali diaspora are triggering a notable expansion in the capital’s retail and hospitality sector. Modern coffee shops are opening at a rapid pace, replacing once-empty streets with new commercial centres and shopping malls. While Somalis have traditionally favoured camel-milk tea, consumer habits are shifting as a new cafe culture takes root.
Homegrown chain Beydan exemplifies this retail revival. Founded as a bakery in 2018, the company now operates more than 10 branches across Somalia and employs 136 people. “When we opened our store in the Taleh neighbourhood in 2019, there was no other shop in the area,” says founder Najiib Abdullahi. “It was an empty street.” That single location has since acted as an anchor for the local economy, attracting restaurants and boutiques to create what is now known locally as Wadada Beydan, or Beydan Road.
This commercial activity addresses a critical economic need in a nation where more than 70% of the population is under 35 and unemployment is high. Beyond direct service jobs, these cafes are functioning as informal networking hubs for artists, designers and entrepreneurs. The emergence of a formal coffee culture is also spawning ancillary businesses, with local colleges now offering dedicated barista training courses to meet staffing demand.
For young workers, the industry offers a viable path to financial independence. Yusra Abdifatahi, a 21-year-old barista promoted to branch manager at Beydan in 2023, says the role covers her university tuition and helps support her family. Overseeing daily operations, quality control and customer satisfaction, Abdifatahi views the position as a stepping stone. “I now have clarity of what I want to do in life, and I believe I am on the right track to achieve my dream of having my own business,” she says.
The sector is also demonstrating digital traction and shifting gender dynamics within the labour market. Saabiriin Hassan, a barista and trainer at Cplus Cafe, has amassed more than 70,000 followers on TikTok by sharing her routine. She notes that working as a barista carries a specific cachet among young Somalis compared to other vocational trades, actively drawing women into a traditionally male-dominated industry. Women now make up more than 40% of Beydan’s workforce.
Looking ahead, Somali consumer brands are eyeing regional markets. Abdullahi states that Beydan’s vision is to expand across Africa, with plans to open new branches in Nairobi. “We are proud to pave the way for others to return and invest in our country,” he says.
