A Second Chance at Sea: Berbera Fisherman Rebuilding His Life

Every morning, long before sunrise, Ahmed Mohamed Suleiman would walk down to the Berbera shore with quiet determination. The sea had always been his partner and his only source of livelihood. With his small wooden boat and an aging engine, he spent hours on the water, bringing home enough fish to feed and support his wife and six children.

But one day, his boat engine broke down beyond repair. Without savings to buy a new one, Suleiman’s daily trips to the sea stopped. The family’s primary source of income disappeared overnight. “It was a very difficult time,” he recalled. “Fishing was all I knew. When my boat stopped, I didn’t know how to start again.”

For weeks, Suleiman searched for odd jobs to keep his family afloat, but opportunities were scarce. Then, a conversation with another fisherman changed everything. The man told him about the Finance for Inclusive Growth (FIG) Programme, funded by the Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF), which supports small business owners through local financial institutions like MicroDahab MFI in Somaliland.

Encouraged, Suleiman visited MicroDahab MFI’s Berbera branch to learn more. After explaining his situation, he applied for financial support and was approved for a $2,860 loan—enough to purchase a new engine and repair his boat.
“When I heard the loan was approved, I felt like I could breathe again,” he said with a smile. “It gave me hope that I could go back to the sea and provide for my family.”

With his new engine installed, Suleiman was soon back on the water. The first morning he returned to fishing, he says, was one of the happiest of his life. The sea breeze, the gentle rocking of the waves, and the hum of the new engine reminded him that he had been given a second chance.

Now, Suleiman’s days are once again spent casting his nets and selling his catch to local markets. The income has stabilized his household, allowing him to pay school fees, buy food, and save for emergencies—all while repaying his loan on flexible terms.
“The loan was more than money,” he reflected. “It brought back my dignity and restored my confidence.”

Suleiman’s story is one of many made possible through the AECF’s FIG Programme, which works to expand access to finance for entrepreneurs in Somalia and Somaliland. By partnering with local institutions like MicroDahab MFI, the programme helps small business owners overcome barriers, rebuild livelihoods, and create lasting economic opportunities in their communities.

For Suleiman, every journey to the sea now carries new meaning. “I thank MicroDahab MFI because they helped me return to the work I love, and because of that, my children can dream again.”