Kampala, Uganda – Somalia and India have taken fresh steps toward strengthening their diplomatic and economic partnership following a high-level meeting on the sidelines of the 19th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Ministerial Conference in Kampala, Uganda.
Somalia’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ali Mohamed Omar, held talks with Indian Minister of State for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh, in what both sides described as a positive engagement aimed at turning historic goodwill into practical cooperation.
According to officials present at the discussions, the ministers explored new avenues for collaboration in trade, education, and diplomatic support. Somalia is seeking increased investment from India in key sectors such as agriculture, medicine, and infrastructure, while also pushing for scholarship opportunities and vocational training programs to support its growing youth population.
For India, the meeting signals renewed interest in the Horn of Africa, a region of strategic maritime importance along the Indian Ocean trade corridor. Kirti Vardhan Singh reportedly reaffirmed New Delhi’s willingness to expand development partnerships, highlighting India’s long-standing ties with Somalia dating back to post-independence solidarity movements.
The exchange, held against the backdrop of one of the world’s largest gatherings of developing nations, carried symbolic weight for Mogadishu. After decades of instability, Somalia is reasserting itself on the global stage, using multilateral forums like NAM to secure new alliances beyond traditional partners.
Ali Mohamed Omar framed the talks as part of Somalia’s broader diplomatic offensive.
“We are deepening partnerships with countries that believe in mutual growth and respect. India has been a friend to Somalia before, and we now seek to translate that friendship into shared progress,” he told reporters after the meeting.
No formal agreements were announced, but both sides signaled intent to maintain momentum through follow-up visits and technical consultations. If successful, the Kampala meeting could mark the beginning of a more structured Somalia–India cooperation track, blending political goodwill with tangible results.
For a nation rebuilding from conflict, even modest diplomatic breakthroughs carry weight. In Kampala, Somalia once again showed that its voice is not only present—but increasingly heard.