Foreign Minister Joins African Leaders’ Meeting with South Korean President

GOOBJOOG NEWS | SEOUL: Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation minister Abdisalam Abdi Ali, joined fellow African foreign ministers in a high-level meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung at the Cheong Wa Dae presidential office, as Seoul sought to deepen its engagement with the African continent.

The meeting, held on the sidelines of the Korea–Africa Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, highlighted the growing partnership between South Korea and African nations, with discussions focusing on expanding trade, investment, technology cooperation and sustainable development.

President Lee reaffirmed South Korea’s commitment to strengthening relations with African countries and enhancing cooperation in areas critical to economic growth and innovation, according to officials attending the talks.

For Somalia, the engagement offered an opportunity to advance the Federal Government’s efforts to attract foreign investment, promote economic development and build strategic partnerships with one of Asia’s leading economies.

The meeting comes as Somalia continues to broaden its diplomatic outreach and strengthen ties with emerging global partners following recent progress in economic reforms, debt relief and institutional development. The Federal Government has increasingly sought to position Somalia as an attractive destination for investment, particularly in infrastructure, technology, renewable energy and trade.

South Korea has expanded its presence across Africa in recent years through development assistance, technology partnerships and investment initiatives. Seoul has identified Africa as a key partner in its global engagement strategy, with growing interest in sectors including digital innovation, green energy, manufacturing and critical infrastructure.

Officials said the discussions underscored a shared commitment to fostering mutually beneficial partnerships that support sustainable development and economic prosperity across Africa.

Somalia’s participation in the meeting reflects its broader foreign policy objective of strengthening international cooperation, diversifying economic partnerships and securing greater support for its national development agenda.

The Korea–Africa ministerial gathering is expected to pave the way for enhanced cooperation between African countries and South Korea, building on commitments made during the inaugural Korea–Africa Summit held in Seoul and reinforcing efforts to address common development challenges through innovation and partnership.