Foreign Minister Abdisalam Ali Receives Sudanese Ambassador to Strengthen Bilateral Ties

MOGADISHU — Somalia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Abdisalam Abdi Ali, has received the Sudanese Ambassador to Somalia, Abdulrahman Khalil Ahmed Abakr Afandi, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Mogadishu to discuss bilateral cooperation and recent developments in the region.

The meeting focused on bolstering Somalia’s sovereignty, national unity, and territorial integrity, while exploring avenues to expand bilateral cooperation between the two nations. The Sudanese envoy affirmed his nation’s complete support for the Federal Government and commended the Somali people on the successful implementation of one-person, one-vote local elections, marking a historic milestone as the first such elections in 57 years.

Both officials discussed the strategic significance of the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandab Strait, and the Indian Ocean, in the context of Somalia’s current position as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.

Strengthening Bilateral Relations

The meeting comes barely a month after Somalia and Sudan formally agreed to waive visa requirements for all diplomatic passport holders. The landmark agreement was finalised on April 2, 2026, during the second session of the Somalia-Sudan Political Consultative Committee in Mogadishu, co-chaired by senior officials from both foreign ministries. The visa waiver is expected to streamline high-level exchanges and further consolidate government-to-government cooperation.

Somalia’s newly appointed Ambassador to Sudan, Dr. Ahmed Jama Omar, formally presented his Letters of Credence to Sudan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Port Sudan, underscoring Mogadishu’s commitment to expanding cooperation in political, economic, educational, and cultural domains.

Regional Context and Defence Cooperation

Somalia has been actively engaged in diplomatic outreach to support regional stability, particularly given Sudan’s ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis. The government has consistently affirmed its support for Sudan’s unity and peaceful resolution through dialogue, emphasizing that peace in Sudan is essential for regional security and economic integration efforts under IGAD.

Parallel to the diplomatic engagement in Mogadishu, Somalia’s Minister of Defence, Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, met with his Sudanese counterpart, General Hassan Daoud Kabroun, during the SAHA 2026 Defence Industry Fair in Istanbul, focusing on establishing a framework for defence cooperation and harmonising national security priorities.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has also received high-level Sudanese delegations at Villa Somalia, with Sudan’s Director of General Intelligence Service delivering a message from Sudan’s Transitional Sovereignty Council Chairman, focusing on strengthening bilateral ties and briefing Somalia’s leadership on Sudan’s ongoing internal conflict.

Critical Note

While the meeting between Minister Abdisalam and Ambassador Afandi reflects the ongoing diplomatic engagement between Somalia and Sudan, the effectiveness of this cooperation will depend on concrete action. Sudan’s ongoing conflict continues to pose significant challenges to regional stability, and Somalia’s ability to contribute to peace efforts remains constrained by its own security challenges. The meeting, while diplomatically significant, highlights the gap between diplomatic engagement and tangible progress in resolving the regional crises that affect both countries. The international community, while supporting these diplomatic efforts, must continue to press for accountability and action to address the root causes of conflict in the region.