Tuesday June 2, 2026
Seoul, South Korea (HOL) — Somali Foreign Minister Abdisalam Ali joined African foreign ministers on Monday in a meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung at Cheong Wa Dae, as Seoul moved to deepen ties with African countries.
The meeting was held as part of the Korea-Africa Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, which brought together representatives from 50 African countries and four regional organizations, including the African Union and the African Development Bank.
South Korean officials said the meeting was aimed at expanding cooperation with Africa at a time of global supply chain disruptions and geopolitical uncertainty. President Lee told African ministers and senior officials that South Korea hopes to strengthen cooperation with the continent, including through regular summits with African leaders.
The Korea-Africa Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was held in Seoul on June 1, bringing together foreign ministers and representatives from 50 African countries.
For Somalia, the meeting offered an opportunity to strengthen diplomatic and economic engagement with South Korea, particularly in areas such as development, investment, technology and institutional cooperation, according to the Somali foreign ministry.
The discussions also reflected Seoul’s broader effort to build partnerships with African countries in critical minerals, trade and supply chains as global economic and security pressures intensify.
