Somalia and Tanzania sign agreements to enhance bilateral cooperation

Somalia and Tanzania sign agreements to enhance bilateral cooperation

 Somali Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ahmed Moalim Faki signed three strategic agreements with Tanzanian officials on Wednesday to enhance cooperation in the field of security, cultural development and prisoner exchange.

The agreements were signed alongside Tanzanian Minister of Information, Heritage, Culture and Sports Professor Palamagamba John Edan Mwaluku and Minister of Interior Innocent Luga Bashongwa, at a ceremony held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

The agreements covered security and safety cooperation, prisoner exchanges, and a memorandum of understanding on the development of the Swahili language and culture. The event was attended by the Somali Minister of Water and Energy, MP Abdullahi Badan, the Somali Ambassador to Tanzania, Elias Ali Hassan, and the Deputy Director of the Somali Presidential Palace, Mohamed Amin Osman.

The Somali government stated that the agreements, especially regarding prisoner exchanges, are important because they will facilitate the return of Somali citizens currently detained in Tanzanian prisons.

Many member states of the East African Community, of which Somalia became a member in March 2024, speak Swahili. The new cooperation aims to promote the development of the Swahili language, which is seen as an important aspect of regional integration.

In December 2024, Somalia and Tanzania have already signed four major agreements covering political cooperation, defence, health and tourism during a meeting in Mogadishu, further emphasizing the strengthening of relations between the two countries.