Somalia, Algeria Strengthen Diplomatic Engagement at UN General Assembly

GOOBJOOG NEWS | NEW YORK: Somalia and Algeria have agreed to strengthen their bilateral cooperation and coordination on regional and international issues during talks between their foreign ministers on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

Somali Foreign Minister Abdisalam Ali met his Algerian counterpart Ahmed Attaf in New York, with the two officials discussing ways to expand relations between the two countries across a range of areas.

The talks focused in particular on strengthening coordination over issues of common interest, both within Africa and at the international level, according to Somalia’s Foreign Ministry.

Somalia has stepped up diplomatic engagement with African and Arab countries during the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, using the gathering of world leaders and senior officials to deepen bilateral relations and discuss regional developments.

The two sides have maintained diplomatic relations centred on political cooperation and shared interests, while Algeria has traditionally played an influential diplomatic role in African and Arab affairs.

The two ministers discussed opportunities for expanding cooperation and improving coordination between their governments, but no specific agreements or new initiatives were announced following the meeting.

The talks form part of a broader diplomatic push by the federal government of Somalia to strengthen partnerships with countries in Africa and the Arab world while advancing cooperation on political, security and development issues.

The meeting also comes as regional and international diplomacy around Africa’s security and political challenges remains a prominent issue at the UN gathering, giving bilateral meetings between African governments an opportunity to coordinate positions on matters of shared concern.