Somalia Announces Official Launch of Industrial Design and Patent Registration and Protection in 2026

Mogadishu, Somalia — December 2025

The Federal Government of Somalia has officially announced that, beginning in 2026, the country will start the formal registration and legal protection of industrial designs and patents, a historic milestone in the ongoing effort to strengthen Somalia’s intellectual property (IP) framework and spur innovation, investment, and economic growth.

This development marks a major expansion of Somalia’s intellectual property regime, building on the country’s recent progress in restoring trademark protection and modernizing its legal infrastructure.

A Long Road to Rebuilding Intellectual Property Rights

Somalia’s intellectual property system was once functional before the collapse of the central government in 1991. The legal framework in force at that time included provisions for trademarks, patents, and industrial designs under the law introduced in 1955 and later amended in the 1970s and 1980s. However, decades of civil conflict and state fragmentation led to the effective dormancy of IP institutions and enforcement mechanisms. For much of the past three decades, individuals and businesses seeking protection for patents or industrial designs could only publish cautionary notices in local newspapers as a rudimentary way of signaling ownership, a method that offered limited legal certainty or enforceability.

In recent years, Somalia has taken deliberate steps to rebuild its IP infrastructure. A significant milestone occurred when the Somalia Trademarks Office resumed operations in late 2019, following a ministerial decree by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. This move re-established formal trademark registration after nearly 30 years of dormancy, allowing local and foreign rights holders to secure and renew trademarks through a structured registry. 

Expanding Protection: Industrial Designs and Patents in 2026

Until now, Somalia’s formal protection has been largely limited to trademarks, with patents and industrial designs lacking a statutory registration system backed by clear legislative authority and administrative mechanisms. Cautionary notices served as a stopgap but did not provide the full suite of rights typically associated with registered patents and designs. 

The government’s announcement that industrial design and patent protection will formally commence in 2026 reflects the culmination of years of legal modernization efforts, including the drafting of a comprehensive national intellectual property law that explicitly encompasses these categories of IP. This new framework is being developed in collaboration with international partners and legal experts to ensure alignment with global best practices and economic development goals. 

Under the new regime, expected to take effect in early 2026

• Industrial designs: protecting the visual and aesthetic elements of products will be eligible for formal registration and exclusive rights, fostering creativity in manufacturing, fashion, technology, and consumer goods sectors.
• Patents: protecting inventions that are novel, inventive, and industrially applicable will provide innovators with exclusive rights to commercialize and license their inventions.
• Clear procedures, fee structures, and statutory terms of protection will be established, positioning Somalia to attract investment and encourage domestic innovation.

Economic and Innovation Implications

Legal experts and business leaders have praised the move, noting that a robust IP system provides legal certainty for creators and investors, encouraging the commercialization of new ideas and technologies. Formal protection for designs and inventions can help Somali entrepreneurs compete in regional and global markets, attract foreign direct investment, and support the growth of technology, manufacturing, and creative industries.

Effective IP protection is also an important signal to international markets and partners that Somalia is committed to upholding the rule of law and fostering a transparent, business-friendly environment a key factor for innovation-driven economic development.

Looking Ahead

While Somalia is not yet a party to major international IP treaties such as the Paris Convention or the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), the establishment of a functioning national registration system for industrial designs and patents represents a foundational step toward broader global integration. Future accession to international treaties remains a goal of policymakers as the legal infrastructure and administrative capacity continue to mature. 

As Somalia prepares to implement these reforms in 2026, creators, innovators, businesses, and legal practitioners are encouraged to stay informed about the new procedures, timelines, and opportunities for securing intellectual property rights in this emerging market.

For more information, please contact us at info@abisomip.com