MOGADISHU: The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Federal Government of Somalia, Abdisalam Abdi Ali, held a telephone conversation on Tuesday with his Malawian counterpart, George Tapatula Chaponda, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Malawi. The discussions focused on strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing collaboration on matters of mutual interest.
During the conversation, Minister Chaponda reiterated Malawi’s commitment to the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia. He also reaffirmed Lilongwe’s support for the country’s ongoing efforts to build a federal, democratic, and stable Somalia through its leadership in regional and international forums. Both ministers explored ways to enhance bilateral relations and deepen political and economic ties between the two nations.
The phone call comes as Somalia continues to broaden its diplomatic engagement across the African continent. In July 2025, Somalia formally established diplomatic representation in Malawi with the appointment of Ambassador Ilyas Ali Hassan as its non-resident envoy to the southern African nation. During the official ceremony in Lilongwe, Ambassador Hassan reaffirmed Somalia’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Malawi, particularly in the areas of trade, security, education, and regional cooperation. He emphasised the importance of fostering mutually beneficial ties and pledged to work closely with the Malawian government to promote peace, economic growth, and integration across the region. Malawian Foreign Minister Nancy Tembo welcomed the ambassador and expressed optimism about deepening cooperation between the two countries.
The engagement aligns with Somalia’s broader foreign policy strategy to expand partnerships with fellow African nations, enhance diplomatic influence, and secure support for its reconstruction and development agenda. As a member of the African Union and other multilateral bodies, Somalia continues to seek backing for its territorial integrity and sovereignty, particularly on the world stage, where it holds a seat on the African Union Peace and Security Council for 2026-2028 and also occupies a non‑permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, having assumed the rotating presidency in January 2026.
The conversation between the two ministers underscores the growing relationship between Somalia and Malawi and reflects Somalia’s determined effort to build alliances that can contribute to its long-term peace, development, and regional integration. Both sides have agreed to maintain close contact and explore concrete steps to deepen collaboration in the coming months.
