Somalia president to attend Russia-Africa Summit amidst rising challenges and uncertainty

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Somalia president to attend Russia-Africa Summit amidst rising challenges and uncertainty

BY: Mohamed Ibrahim Bulbul MOGADISHU (Horn Observer) Somalia's President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, is gearing up to travel to St. Petersburg, Russia, to attend the forthcoming Russia-Africa Summit later this month.

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Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (third from left) and Foreign Minister Abshir Omar Huruse (second from left) to attend the Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg, Russia later this month

BY: Mohamed Ibrahim Bulbul MOGADISHU (Horn Observer) Somalia's President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, is gearing up to travel to St. Petersburg, Russia, to attend the forthcoming Russia-Africa Summit later this month.

The move was confirmed by Somali Foreign Minister Abshir Omar Huruse, who engaged with Russian authorities during his visit to Moscow in May.

The purpose of President Mohamud’s attendance at the summit aligns with Somalia’s need to address its frustration in acquiring weapons and ammunition to bolster the government’s fight against the militant group, Al-Shabab.

In May, Somali diplomats revealed that Russia had extended support to aid Somalia’s armed forces in their ongoing battle against the terrorist organization. Speculations have also surfaced about Russia potentially deploying Wagner mercenaries to train Somali forces, though Minister Huruse refrained from providing in-depth details about his discussions with Russian officials.

With President Mohamud at the helm, a government delegation, including Foreign Minister Huruse, senior Villa Somalia officials, and state media representatives, will embark on a mission to enhance media coverage of the Summit, ensuring that the Somali audience is well-informed about the Summit developments including potential propaganda against the west.

Quoted by Russia state news agency TASS, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized the importance of gradually lifting the arms embargo on Somalia saying that "they have already become an obstacle to the Somali government’s efforts to stabilize the situation.”

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed gratitude for Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s decision to personally attend the event.

However, as this diplomatic push comes amid Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine, which has raised concerns about potential security implications in Europe, Mr. Lavrov continued to give his perspective against Western powers, explaining that the majority of developing nations comprehend the main factors driving the Ukraine crisis.

"We share our assessment of the situation, and I believe the vast majority of developing countries understand the primary causes of this crisis, which are rooted in the ambitions of the United States and its allies, by way of enlarging NATO in defiance of all previous guarantees, to recklessly cement their dominance not only in Europe but also in other regions,” he added.

Somalia is grappling with multiple hurdles, including political turmoil, governance challenges, and clan rivalries. The humanitarian situation is equally distressing, with a staggering 8.25 million people (50% of the population) requiring urgent humanitarian assistance, 6.6 million facing acute food insecurity, and 1.8 million children at risk of acute malnutrition through 2023.

Adding to the uncertainty, Russia’s recent withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Deal has disrupted Ukrainian agricultural exports to East African countries like Somalia, which have heavily relied on Ukrainian grain for sustenance, especially amidst the effects of global climate change.

Compounding the difficulties, Finland, a key humanitarian supporter of Somalia, declared its decision not to provide development aid to governments and countries supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine, introducing further ambiguity for Mogadishu.

The Finland Foreign Ministry has committed to providing EUR 54 million for bilateral cooperation in Somalia, with a specific focus on state-building efforts and initiatives related to women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights from 2021 to 2024.

Additionally, Finland contributed EUR 6.6 million for projects related to Somalia Multi-Partner Fund (MPF) via the World Bank as well as projects intended to improving healthcare and education from 2021–2022.

As Somalia braces itself for the Russia-Africa Summit and navigates these complex challenges, the stakes are high, and the path forward remains unclear. The nation’s leaders must navigate a delicate balance amidst the evolving geopolitical landscape to secure much-needed support and assistance for the country’s stabilization and development.