Sunday 27, April  2025 {HMC} Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has announced what he called a cabinet reshuffle appointing new heads of various government ministries as Somalia now faces additional political and security difficulties.

Jibril Abdirashid Haji Abdi has been appointed second deputy prime minister, to the cabinet team. Jibril is well-known for his political activism, and he was the Minister of commerce and Industry in the previous cabinet.

Abdisalam Abdi Ali has been appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and has replaced Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, who had been the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Abdisalam was the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public works.

Ahmed Moallim Fiqi is following up on foreign affairs into the Minister of Defense position. Ahmed Moallim Fiqi has a long history of security experience as he was formerly the head of Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA). He has also previously held the Minister of Interior and Ambassador to Sudan roles.

Sunday 27, April  2025 {HMC} The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, H.E. Amb. Ahmed Moallim Fiqi Ahmed, received on Sunday at his office in Mogadishu, H.E. Mikhail Bogdanov, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation and Special Representative of the President for the Middle East and African Countries, and discussed with him ways to enhance the bonds of friendship and cooperation between the two countries, in a spirit of mutual respect and constructive engagement.

Commemorating 65 years of diplomatic relations, the meeting underscored the enduring strength of Somalia-Russia ties, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to further deepening their partnership.

The two sides engaged in a comprehensive exchange of views on advancing bilateral cooperation, identifying key sectors where collaboration could be deepened for mutual benefit, reaffirming their shared commitment to nurturing a strong partnership guided by common interests and a mutual desire to contribute to the prosperity and stability of both countries.

The meeting further addressed regional and international issues of common concern, highlighting the importance of sustained dialogue and coordination between the two countries, emphasizing the need to reactivate and consolidate existing agreements and partnerships to strengthen the foundations of their longstanding cooperation.

Sunday 27, April  2025 {HMC} Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly asserted on Friday, during the newly formed African Union Support and Stabilization Mission (AUSSOM) summit hosted by Entebbe, Uganda, Egypt’s commitment to supporting the Federal Republic of Somalia and the international community.

The summit, which brought together the Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs) to AUSSOM, tackled the new mission’s financial challenges.

Madbouly, who participated in the event on behalf of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, reiterated Egypt’s unwavering support for Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s vision of establishing a unified and prosperous state.

“The decision to lift the long-standing arms embargo, the adoption of tangible measures to alleviate Somalia’s debt burden, and holding the Somali Security Conference in December 2023, have created political momentum that benefited Somalia’s national army,” he stated during the summit.

Madbouly added that despite such momentum, the international community’s shifting priorities in 2024 allowed the Al-Shabaab militant group to regain strength and undermined hard-won gains made by the Somali National Army in 2022 and 2023.

“We believe that the establishment of AUSSOM provides an opportunity for the international community to refocus its efforts, renew its commitment, and demonstrate its resolve to assist the brotherly people of Somalia in their quest for peace, stability, and development,” Madbouly asserted.

He stressed the importance of providing Somalia with the necessary resources under AUSSOM to empower the Somali National Army to safeguard its substantial gains on the ground.

A 2024 UN Security Council resolution endorsed the African Union Peace and Security Council’s decision to replace the anti-terror African Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) with AUSSOM, effective January 2025.

Egypt announced its participation in the newly formed mission in December 2024, nearly four months after both nations signed a military cooperation protocol.

Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said the Somali government requested the protocol during a press conference in Cairo with the Somali foreign minister at the time.

“We spoke about the situation in Somalia and Egypt’s support of Somalia to impose its authority and sovereignty on all Somali national land and the full refusal of any […] unilateral moves that touch the unity, sovereignty and security of Somalia,” Abdelatty added during the presser.

Last year, tensions increased in the Horn of Africa over Addis Ababa’s plan to establish a naval base and a commercial port in Somaliland, a breakaway entity from Somalia that Egypt does not recognize.

Egypt has repeatedly asserted its firm position supporting the unity and sovereignty of Somalia over its territories.

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