Somalia, Kenya Reaffirm Strategic Ties in Beijing Talks

GOOBJOOG NEWS | BEIJING: Somalia and Kenya have renewed their commitment to closer diplomatic and regional cooperation following high-level talks between their foreign ministers in Beijing, as the two East African nations seek to strengthen economic and security ties.

Somalia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Abdisalan Abdi Ali Dhaay, met with Kenya’s Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Musalia W. Mudavadi, on the sidelines of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Ministers’ Summit.

The meeting, described by both sides as productive and forward-looking, focused on enhancing the longstanding relationship between the neighboring countries. Discussions touched on shared security interests, cultural links, and joint efforts to promote stability and development across the Horn of Africa.

Officials said the two ministers agreed to fast-track the convening of Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) meetings, aimed at finalizing a series of bilateral agreements across sectors including trade, infrastructure, education, and counterterrorism.

Minister Dhaay praised Kenya’s decades-long partnership with Somalia, particularly its role in regional peacekeeping through the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). Kenya has been a key contributor to the mission, which supports Somali-led efforts to defeat al-Shabab and restore government control in contested areas.

“Kenya has stood with Somalia for more than 25 years. Their commitment to peace and partnership has helped shape a stronger foundation for our future,” Dhaay said after the meeting.

Mudavadi, in turn, reiterated Nairobi’s commitment to supporting Somalia’s progress and emphasized the importance of regional integration through peaceful and cooperative diplomacy.

“Our nations are bound by geography and history,” Mudavadi said. “We’re determined to deepen collaboration that promotes mutual security, economic growth, and people-to-people connections.”

Also in attendance were Somalia’s Ambassador to China, Hodan Osman Abdi, and her Kenyan counterpart, Willy Bett. The presence of both envoys highlighted the diplomatic weight of the talks and the broader significance of the China-Africa forum as a platform for advancing bilateral partnerships.

The meeting comes at a time when Somalia is reasserting its diplomatic presence internationally, seeking deeper cooperation with neighboring states and strategic partners to help accelerate its recovery and development agenda.