Mogadishu, Somalia – Deputy Prime Minister of the Federal Government of Somalia, Salah Ahmed Jama, has welcomed a delegation led by the Chairperson of the African Union, Mr. Mahmoud Ali Yusuf, at Aden Adde International Airport.
Mahmoud Ali Yusuf, who was elected in early February 2025, is making his first official visit to Mogadishu. During his visit, he will hold important meetings with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre. The discussions will focus on critical issues concerning both Somalia and the African Union.
President Hassan Sheikh is currently in the Shabelle region, where he is overseeing operations to intensify the Somali government’s ongoing fight against Al-Shabaab, which has recently escalated. It is expected that he will return to Mogadishu soon to meet with the African Union delegation.
Mr. Mahmoud Ali Yusuf, who won the recent election in Addis Ababa by defeating Raila Odinga, has previously served as Djibouti’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. Djibouti is one of the countries contributing troops to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), which supports Somalia’s fight against insurgents.
The visit marks a significant step in strengthening relations between Somalia and the African Union, with discussions set to play a key role in addressing security and development challenges in Somalia.
