UK Foreign Secretary in talks with Somali President in Mogadishu

President Mohamed Farmaajo has termed his meeting with UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson fruitful adding they discussed ‘discussed challenges and opportunities for further partnership in development between the two sides’.

The Presidency said in a tweet UK was a valuable partner to Somalia in ‘our national journey towards progress and prosperity’.

Johnson landed in Mogadishu Wednesday morning a week after UN Secretary General Antonnio Guteres visited the country in a bid to bolsters efforts against the ongoing drought in Somalia.

Britain on Wednesday announced that it would match “pound for pound” the first £5 million ($6.1 million) donated by the public to the Disasters Emergency Committee’s new East Africa Crisis Appeal. The committee is a collection of 13 British aid agencies.

The talks were expected to cover the prevailing drought in the country and security situation among other issues.

The UK will be hosting international conference on Somalia in May to shore up support for the country as the new administration starts off.