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Tanzania and Somalia forge stronger relations


Wednesday July 16, 2025

Dar Es Salaam (HOL) — Somalia’s diplomatic re-engagement continues to gain momentum following the reopening of its embassy in Dar es Salaam and the signing of nine new bilateral agreements with Tanzania, covering education, security, civil aviation, trade, and more.

Somalia’s Ambassador to Tanzania, Ilyas Ali Hassan, said the current focus is on implementation. “Diplomacy must translate into real benefits for our people,” he said, noting that a roadmap has been developed to align each agreement with specific deadlines.

The agreements mark a significant milestone in Somalia’s regional engagement strategy, as the country assumes a more active role on the continent. Somalia currently holds a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council and has expanded its diplomatic footprint across Africa.

Appointed in December 2024, Ambassador Ilyas has played a central role in advancing the bilateral agenda. In addition to his post in Tanzania, he also serves as Somalia’s non-resident ambassador to Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Malawi, Mauritius, and the Union of the Comoros.

The revitalized relationship began on December 19, 2024, when Tanzanian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Thabit Kombo led the first Cabinet-level delegation to Mogadishu in over three decades. That historic visit resulted in the signing of five foundational Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs). In a reciprocal visit six weeks later, then-Somali Foreign Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi traveled to Dar es Salaam to continue discussions.

Agreements signed since then include joint surveillance, scholarship schemes, prisoner repatriation and Kiswahili promotion.

From January 2026, Tanzanian universities will host Somali students pursuing degrees in engineering and medicine. The University of Dar es Salaam is also preparing Kiswahili-language pilot programs for schools in Kismayo and Beledweyne.

A strategic civil aviation agreement signed on July 1 paves the way for direct Air Tanzania flights to Mogadishu by the end of the year.

“We are building a Somalia that is sovereign, united, and open for business,” said Ambassador Ilyas. “That is how we demonstrate that Somalia is back in business — as a sovereign, united, and forward-looking state under the leadership of President Dr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.”

Ambassador Ilyas has recently presented his diplomatic credentials to President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, President Lazarus Chakwera of Malawi, and President Azali Assoumani of Comoros. Presentations to the DRC and Mauritius are expected in the coming weeks, according to diplomatic sources.



 





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