Jigjiga፡Horn News Hub | November 7, 2026
Written by Chekole Alemu
For decades, mention of the Somali region brought the same associations to many minds: insecurity, instability and weak management of public resources. Eight years into the administration of President Mustefe Mohammed, that story is being rewritten, and the clearest evidence is found on the streets of the regional capital.
A night walk through the city
This reporter walked through the streets of Jigjiga tonight and found a city that is calm, bright and fully alive. Jigjiga at night is breathtaking. Shops remained open, taxis operated peacefully, and people went about their business freely well into the late hours. At no point on the walk was there a sense of tension or caution, which for a city once discussed mainly in the language of risk is a striking observation in itself.
Twenty four hour movement is now an ordinary part of life here. Residents come and go at any hour without hesitation, and every busy move happens in the open. The weather was pleasant, adding to an atmosphere of confidence rather than worry. What this reporter saw in person matches what residents describe: a capital that feels safe at night, and a public that trusts the environment around them.
A hub of everything, in the words of the regional government
The scene on the street reflects how the regional government itself describes the city. Abdi Ahmed (PhD), Head of the Somali Regional State Communication Bureau, told Horn News Hub that Jigjiga has become the hub of everything. He credited the leadership of President Mustefe Mohammed for this transformation, saying it is the result of steady, focused leadership that has placed peace and development at the center of the region’s agenda.
The label covers a wide range of roles. Jigjiga is a hub of peace, a hub of development and corridor initiatives, a hub of tourism and international conferences, a hub of peaceful business operation and a hub where people from all Ethiopian nations feel at home.
Peace as the foundation
Every other gain in Jigjiga rests on security. Businesses invest where owners trust they can open, close and travel safely. Families spend evenings outdoors where they feel protected. Observers note that the sense of order in the capital reflects a deliberate political direction under the reform minded leadership that took office in 2018, one that prioritized stability and dialogue over division.
A hub of development and national corridors
Jigjiga has increasingly positioned itself within the corridor development vision championed by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Its location, its growing infrastructure and its connection to regional trade routes make it a natural meeting point for commerce between the Horn of Africa and the rest of Ethiopia.
The city is no longer only a regional seat of government. It is becoming a gateway.
A hub of ideas, tourism and gatherings
The city now hosts regional and international events, including the Jigjiga Intellectual Conference, which brings scholars, policymakers and thought leaders into the same room. Conferences on tourism add to this identity.
Each gathering carries the name of Jigjiga to new audiences and shows that the capital can host guests with professionalism and confidence.
Telling the region’s story accurately
Changing a reputation requires both results and communication. Abdi Ahmed told Horn News Hub that the Communication Bureau’s office has been renewed and furnished to serve as a good working environment for communication.
He said the purpose is to support the region’s development agenda by providing information to the rest of the people of Ethiopia, so that they know the exact picture of the Somali region and so that the negative narratives long built about it can be changed.
The investment signals a recognition within the administration that accurate, timely information is part of good governance. A region that wants to be seen for what it has achieved must be able to share its progress clearly and consistently with the wider public.
A home for all Ethiopians
Jigjiga’s streets reflect a wider message of belonging. Residents and visitors from across Ethiopia’s nations and nationalities work, trade and live side by side in a peaceful environment.
That coexistence is among the most valuable assets any regional capital can have.
Fiscal responsibility and tax culture
The administration has also drawn attention for its progress in tax collection and its efforts to cover a meaningful share of internal budget needs. A functioning tax culture signals trust between citizens and government, and it reduces dependence on outside support.
In a region once associated with budget misuse, improved collection and accountability mark a notable shift in public finance practice.
What the experience shows
Taken together, a peaceful night walk, free movement, active businesses, international conferences, a stronger communication effort and improved revenue performance describe a capital that has changed its reputation through results.
For President Mustefe Mohammed and his new cabinet, the task now is to protect these gains, deepen service delivery and ensure that the benefits of stability reach every district of the region.
Jigjiga today offers a simple lesson. Where peace holds and leadership stays focused, a city can move from being talked about for its problems to being admired for its promise.
