TRIPOLI — Somalia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Abdisalam Ali, has attended the official reopening ceremony of the Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD) headquarters in Tripoli, Libya, marking a renewed phase for the regional organization following a period of inactivity.
Upon arrival, the minister was received by the Prime Minister of Libya, Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, during a high-level event attended by foreign ministers from CEN-SAD member states.
Libyan Prime Minister Inaugurates Ceremony
Prime Minister Dbeibah inaugurated the ceremony, signaling a new phase for the regional organization after a period of inactivity, with a common pledge to revitalize cooperation and enhance institutional engagement among member nations.
The reopening demonstrates a shared commitment to revitalizing cooperation among CEN-SAD countries, with priority areas including security cooperation, economic integration, and regional connectivity.
Strategic Opportunity for Somalia
Somalia, which has been a member of the bloc since 2001, considers the organization’s reactivation a strategic opportunity to strengthen collaboration between the Sahel and the Horn of Africa.
The Somali government reiterated its dedication to actively support the organization’s renewed agenda, emphasizing the value of collective action in tackling shared regional challenges.
“We will actively contribute to the organisation’s renewed agenda,” the government indicated, stressing the importance of collective action in addressing cross-border challenges.
Strengthening Regional Cooperation
The event occurs as regional countries seek to enhance cooperation on security and development amid ongoing instability in parts of the Sahel and wider region.
Somalia’s involvement demonstrates its ongoing commitment to regional and multilateral platforms focused on fostering peace, stability, and economic development.
CEN-SAD, an African regional economic community and trade bloc, was established in Tripoli in 1998 with six founding members and has since expanded to include 29 member states across the Sahel, Sahara, and Horn of Africa regions.
Previous Engagement with Regional Organizations
The foreign minister’s participation in the CEN-SAD reopening follows similar diplomatic engagements aimed at strengthening Somalia’s position within regional frameworks. In September 2025, Minister Abdisalam called for deeper coordination between the United Nations and the League of Arab States to address escalating global and regional crises, warning that fragmented diplomacy is no longer sufficient in today’s volatile geopolitical climate.
Speaking at a UN-LAS cooperation dialogue held on the sidelines of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, the minister stressed that many of the world’s most protracted conflicts demand collective frameworks rather than bilateral interventions.
Commitment to Multilateral Diplomacy
The Federal Government of Somalia has consistently prioritized engagement with regional and international organizations as a cornerstone of its foreign policy, recognizing that collective action is essential to addressing transnational threats including terrorism, irregular migration, and climate change.
By actively participating in the revitalized CEN-SAD framework, Somalia aims to advance its national interests while contributing to broader regional stability and economic integration across the Sahel and Horn of Africa.
