Horn of Africa livestock trade can capture greater value

I write these words from the Horn of Africa, a region whose history is deeply intertwined with the global livestock trade.

For millennia, it has linked pastoral production systems to markets across the Middle East and North Africa. Records from the medieval and early modern periods attest to enduring commercial ties between pastoral communities in the Horn and trading partners across the Arabian Peninsula.

The region is home to more than 350 million sheep and goats and remains one of the world’s leading livestock producers and exporters. Livestock exports are growing in value, with Somalia alone surpassing $1.5 billion annually. Sheep and goats account for a significant share of these exports, much of which is destined for Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

Behind these statistics are millions of pastoralists whose livelihoods depend on stable markets and predictable policies. The livestock export market is exacting and leaves little room for error.

Today, the sector stands at a critical inflection point.

The region has significant strengths — scale, diversity and a long-established reputation in international markets — but also faces mounting challenges.

Importing countries impose strict sanitary and phytosanitary standards to protect animal health and meat safety, alongside rigorous traceability requirements. Failure to meet requirements on animal health, documentation or handling can result in rejected shipments, reputational damage and significant financial losses.

Yet compliance can also open opportunities for market expansion. Equally important is a shift towards value addition. Investment in meat processing, grading and branding would allow the region to capture a larger share of the value chain. High-quality, processed, branded and fully traceable meat products command higher prices in international markets.