Pride of Somalia: Hormuud CEO triumphs on global stage with double award win
At the helm of Hormuud Telecom for two decades, this month Yusuf scooped two prestigious, international CEO of the year awards, putting Hormuud Telecom and the Somalia firmly on the world map.
Ahmed Yusuf’s journey is inspirational. When Ahmed joined the company, Somalia was recovering its most tumultuous period, where financial and telecommunications infrastructure were all but destroyed in the civil war.
Twenty years later, through Ahmed’s dedication and entrepreneurial drive, Somalia has become one of the most promising countries for digital transformation in Africa.
Ahmed’s achievements as CEO have unlocked economic growth and kickstarted the country’s digital economy. He re-established 2G services in 2011, before going on to introduce 3 and 4G, and fibre optic cables — a first for Somalia.
Under his leadership, Hormuud launched a EVC plus, a mobile money platform now used by over two thirds of the population. Its boosted financial inclusion for women and rural communities and spurred entrepreneurial activities up and down the nation.
Understanding the gaps in the reach of humanitarian aid, he led the launch of Hormuud’s innovative portal for INGOs. This has enabled them to reach Somalia’s last-mile communities with traceable, secure cash aid, regardless of location.
From the beginning, Ahmed’s vision for Hormuud was clear: connect Somalis with the world and each other. Ahmed’s wins show Somalia’s presence is restored on the global stage.
The first award was won in Cape Town where he was joined by industry leaders from Orange Egypt and Vodacom. The second was won in Amsterdam where he was up against industry giants Deutche Telecom and Colt.
Ahmed’s successes show our telecoms sector stands out on the world’s stage, and Somalia’s journey forward will be propelled by its digital economy.
We could not be prouder of his achievements, and his ongoing dedication to Somalia and Somali people.
