Results of the visit of the President of Somalia to the Republic of Djibouti

Results of the visit of the President of Somalia to the Republic of Djibouti

 The President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, and his accompanying delegation made a one-day official visit to the Republic of Djibouti on October 21, 2024. The President held a meeting with his Djiboutian counterpart, Ismail Omar Guelleh, and in the final statement of their meeting, the two Presidents affirmed their firm commitment to peace and security in Somalia and the region.

Somali President, Hassan Sheikh Sheikh Mohamud, congratulated President Guelleh on his tireless efforts in promoting peace and state-building initiatives in Somalia, as well as his notable role in restoring peace, security and stability in Somalia.

Sheikh Mahmoud also praised the role of the Djiboutian National Defense Forces, the Somali National Armed Forces and the troop-contributing countries to the African Union Mission in combating terrorism.

The two heads of state exchanged views on the security situation in Somalia and the region, and stressed the need to respect Somalia’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, as well as maintaining peace, security and stability in the Horn of Africa and in various parts of the African continent as a whole.

The two Presidents praised the establishment of the new African Union Stabilization Support Mission in Somalia and acknowledged the achievements of its predecessor (ATMS). They also stressed that the mission is scheduled to begin on January 1, 2025 and that it is important to explore all financing options, including UN Resolution 2719. They explained that AMISOM must enjoy predictable and sustainable funding.

The two Presidents also mentioned the importance of supporting the appropriate implementation of the Somali Security Development Plan and strengthening the capabilities of the Somali security forces, and called on the international community to support the building of these capabilities to ensure a smooth transition at the end of AMISOM’s mission.

The two Presidents alluded to the need to ensure a smooth transition from the current African Union Mission to the new Union Mission, also stressing the urgent need to hold a session of the Joint Cooperation Committee as soon as possible, and they instructed their foreign ministers to organize the committee session.

In conclusion, Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh assured his Somali counterpart, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, of Djibouti's continued solidarity and fraternal support for the sister country, Somalia.