Somalia Taking Steps to Re-Open Embassies

[Carafaat]

Mogadishu — Somalia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation is working to re-open embassies and diplomatic missions that have been closed since 1991, in an effort to align foreign relations with the new Somali federal government.

 

 

The ministry's Permanent Secretary Mohamed Sharif Mohamud said Somalia has plans to soon re-open embassies around the world, namely the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Japan, Algeria and Iraq.

With the election of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in September 2012 and improving security conditions in Somalia, countries have started re-opening their embassies in Mogadishu as well, including the United Kingdom, Egypt, Kenya, the United Arab Emirates and Iran. Most other countries with diplomatic relations with Somalia have missions based in Nairobi.

 

The ministry will also replace some ambassadors with appointments that are better aligned with the government's economic and human development policies, Mohamud said.

 

President Mohamud's administration began implementing changes in March, when the Somali embassy re-opened in Brussels, offering services for Somalis in the European Union.

 

On April 18th, the Somali government appointed Abdullahi Mohamed Ali as its diplomatic envoy to London; he is expected to formally present his credentials to British government soon.

 

Diplomatic shuffle

 

Mohamed Osman Mohamed, political adviser at the Somali embassy in Juba, South Sudan, said about 15 ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions in Arab, African and European countries will be re-called. He cautioned, however, that the process of replacing these officials would require a good deal of tact to avoid upsetting the outgoing diplomats.

 

Political analyst Hamdi Khalif Bashir said that in January, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation began the process of re-calling ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions whose terms had come to an end.

 

"[President Mohamed Siad Barre's] military government opened 40 embassies and five general consulates including embassies in Tunisia, Nigeria, Senegal, Serbia, Sweden and several other countries," she told Sabahi.

 

"The current federal government, however, has appointed new ambassadors and consuls to activate its new foreign policy," Bashir said, adding that the ministry is looking for employees with at least two years of experience who can speak multiple languages.

 

She encouraged outgoing diplomats to end their terms gracefully. "I call on all Somali diplomats to be fair and distance themselves from pessimism and despair," she said. "They should work to preserve peace and follow the path to success so they can deliver a message of freedom, justice and love."

 

Foreign Affairs Minister Fowsiyo Yusuf Haji Aadan will recommend new ambassadors, submitting their names to the cabinet for a vote. According to the constitution, the president has the final authority for official appointments.