Garowe, Somalia – The new British Ambassador to Somalia, Charles King, made his first official visit to Garowe, the capital of Puntland State, on Wednesday, signaling renewed UK engagement with Somalia’s Federal Member States.
During the visit, Ambassador King met with Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni to discuss a range of issues including Somali political dialogue, stabilization efforts, and the ongoing fight against terrorism, particularly against ISIS and the Al-Shabaab insurgency.
In a statement following the meeting, Ambassador King emphasized the UK’s continued support for Somalia’s peace and state-building efforts, stressing the importance of strong partnerships with regional administrations.
“This visit underscores our commitment to working with all Federal Member States in supporting Somali-led solutions to security and governance challenges,” he said.
The two leaders also reviewed UK-backed stabilization initiatives and discussed ways to strengthen collaboration on development programs, political reconciliation, and the rule of law.
President Deni welcomed the ambassador and acknowledged the UK’s longstanding role as a strategic partner.
“We value our cooperation with the UK in promoting stability, economic growth, and counter-terrorism in Puntland and across Somalia,” he stated.
The visit comes at a time when Somalia is undergoing significant political and security transitions, including the ongoing drawdown of ATMIS troops and efforts to finalize a national political agreement among federal and regional leaders.
Ambassador King’s tour of Garowe is part of a broader diplomatic effort to engage Somali stakeholders ahead of upcoming regional and federal consultations on constitutional reform and national security architecture.