Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s talks with Foreign Minister of Somalia Abshir Omar Jama

On May 26, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Federal Republic of Somalia Abshir Omar Jama, who is in Moscow on a working visit.

During the talks, topical issues of further strengthening the traditionally friendly Russian-Somali relations were discussed in detail. The intention of Moscow and Mogadishu to deepen political dialogue, build up mutually beneficial trade and economic cooperation, and expand educational and cultural ties was reaffirmed.

The foreign ministers had a trust-based discussion on topics of mutual interest on the international and African agenda. In the light of the difficult geopolitical situation, they considered the tasks of ensuring the energy and food security of African countries, possible ways of assisting the settlement process in the continent’s hot spots, especially in Sudan, as well as stabilising the situation in the Horn of Africa region.

Mr Jama informed his counterpart about the main activities of Somalia’s federal government to promote the process of national reconciliation and the gradual normalisation of the situation regarding internal security, countering the threat of terrorism and manifestations of extremism.

Sergey Lavrov elaborated on his assessments and ideas on the Ukrainian conflict, drawing the Somalian partners’ attention to the anti-Russia policy of the collective West, which was using the Kiev regime in unsuccessful attempts to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia.

The ministers reaffirmed Russia and Somalia’s principled policy of strictly complying with the norms of the international law and the UN Charter, including respect for states’ sovereign choice of the model of their political and socioeconomic development.

Issues related to the preparations for the second Russia-Africa Summit in July in St Petersburg were also touched upon.

Mr Lavrov and Mr Jama signed a Memorandum of Consultations between the Foreign Ministry of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Federal Republic of Somalia.