UAE reiterates commitment to Somalia’s unity

Over the recent years, the UAE has always been at the forefront of international efforts to support Somalia and restore peace and stability to its people

brussels — Mohammed Issa Al Suwaidi, UAE’s Ambassador to Belgium, EU and Luxembourg, has reiterated the UAE’s commitment towards the people of Somalia and its support for efforts aimed at bringing unity, security and stability to Somalia and addressing security, political and developmental challenges in the Horn of Africa.

Addressing a gathering of international stakeholders in Brussels for the Somalia Partnership Forum (SPF), the ambassador welcomed the latest development between Ethiopia and Eritrea. “The UAE is willing to work with regional and international partners to build on this historic achievement to enhance peace and stability in the Horn of Africa.”

The event, organised by the European Union along with the Government of Somalia and Sweden, was aimed to mobilise the international community to step up its support for Somalia’s efforts to build a more secure and prosperous political, economic and security future following years of conflict.

Representatives from 58 countries and 6 international organisations gathered in Brussels to participate in the Second SPF, following the successful inaugural SPF in Mogadishu on December 5, 2017.

“Over the recent years, the UAE has always been at the forefront of international efforts to support Somalia and restore peace and stability to its people. Towards this end, the UAE has provided humanitarian and developmental assistance, security training as well as financial and logistic support for its armed forces. We also supported efforts to combat maritime piracy off the coast of Somalia and contributed funds to regional development projects,” said the UAE ambassador.

“The UAE welcomes the June agreement between the federal government of Somalia and other regions,” said Suwaidi, expressing the UAE’s support for the new Somali partnership and its pledge to advance efforts by the federal government of Somalia to implement its national development plan, especially in area of security reform.

“The UAE is closely monitoring the encouraging progress made in discussions between the federal government of Somalia and the international financial institutions. We urge regional and global actors as well as the central government to distance themselves from strategies that seek to sow seeds of division and rivalry,” he added. He also called on them not to waste time and build on the momentum of this progress and block the way before terrorist organisations.

Mohammed Issa Al Suwaidi, UAE’s Ambassador