Wednesday August 6, 2025 {HMC} Somalia’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Isaak Mohamud Mursal, participated in the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3), held on Tuesday in Awaza, Turkmenistan.

He was joined by Ambassador Fathudin Ali Mohamed, Somalia’s Ambassador to Ankara and non-resident Ambassador to Turkmenistan.

The conference, which runs from August 5 to 8, is focused on improving trade, connectivity, and the movement of goods and people between landlocked and coastal nations. LLDCs often face high trade costs and delays due to their lack of direct access to the sea and reliance on transit countries.

“While Somalia is not a landlocked country, it is classified as a Least Developed Country. Its participation in the conference underscores efforts to enhance regional cooperation and explore solutions that support sustainable development,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

Held under the theme “Driving Progress through Partnerships,” the conference brought together global leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders to address the challenges faced by the world’s 32 landlocked developing countries (LLDCs), home to over 600 million people. The goal is to accelerate sustainable development through enhanced cooperation, trade facilitation, and infrastructure investment.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres, in his opening remarks, emphasized the urgency of collective action. “Despite representing 7 percent of the world’s population, LLDCs account for just over one percent of the global economy and trade – a stark example of deep inequalities that perpetuate marginalization. These inequalities are not inevitable,” he said. “This conference is not about obstacles. It is about solutions. It is about launching a new decade of ambition – through the Awaza Programme of Action – and fully unlocking the development potential of landlocked developing countries.”

Turkmenistan’s President, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, echoed the call for global solidarity in his address at the opening ceremony. “We proceed from the necessity of aligning all economic activity with environmental standards. The essence of our environmental policy is to ‘tune’ the economic system in such a way that the production sphere is not a rival to nature, but its ally and support,” he stated.

Wednesday August 6, 2025 {HMC}  Somalia’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Isaak Mohamud Mursal, held bilateral talks with Turkmenistan’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Ahmet Gurbanov, on Monday in the coastal city of Awaza, along the Caspian Sea.

Deputy Minister Mursal was accompanied by Ambassador Fathudin Ali Mohamed, Somalia’s Ambassador to Ankara and non-resident Ambassador to Turkmenistan.

The discussions focused on enhancing cooperation in political, economic, trade, and cultural sectors. Both delegations emphasized the importance of sustained dialogue and exploring concrete avenues for partnership. They also underscored the role of international organizations—particularly the United Nations—in promoting peace and development.

Deputy Minister Mursal expressed Somalia’s support for Turkmenistan’s peace-oriented initiatives and reaffirmed the two countries’ shared commitment to global peace and sustainable development. He also praised Turkmenistan’s leadership in hosting the upcoming Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3), commending its efforts to strengthen international cooperation.

The talks concluded with an agreement to continue close diplomatic engagement and explore opportunities for expanded bilateral collaboration.

source Hiiraan onnline

Wednesday August 6, 2025 {HMC}  United States President Donald Trump’s administration has proposed to review Kenya’s non-North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) status, barely months after Kenya became the first sub-Saharan African country to receive the prestigious designation.

Kenya secured the status during President William Ruto’s State visit to the USA in May 2024. The designation, which was granted on June 24, 2024, cemented Kenya as a key US partner in Africa and deepened bilateral ties in defence, security and economic areas.

Specifically, the review will assess Kenya’s foreign and diplomatic policies such as its alignment with the United States and its engagements with China, Russia and Iran.

Further, the review will also include Kenya’s possible agreements, political or financial ties with armed militias such as al-Shabaab and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

“A detailed description of the military and security relationship of the Government of Kenya with the People’s Republic of China, the Russian Federation, and Iran, including any engagements, agreements, or joint activities since June 24, 2024,” read part of an excerpt from the US Congress website.

“A detailed description of the political and financial links of key political actors and institutions of Kenya with the People’s Republic of China, the Russian Federation, and Iran.”

Further, the review will assess whether President Ruto’s government utilised U.S. security and intelligence support to engage in human rights violations such as abductions, torture, renditions, and violence against civilians.

If approved, the amendment will require the Secretary of State Marco Rubio to conduct the review and submit the findings to the relevant Committees within 180 days.

The legislative move marks a significant shift in the future of US-Kenya relations.

By Brian Kimani