MOGADISHU, Somalia — President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud of Somalia received a phone call Saturday from Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, who expressed his nation’s solidarity with Somalia following a terrorist attack on the president’s motorcade, according to a statement from the Somali government.
During the call, the Emir condemned all forms of violence and terrorism threatening Somalia’s security and stability, the statement said. He also inquired about the president’s safety and reaffirmed Qatar’s steadfast support for the East African nation, wishing Mahmoud continued health and well-being.
Mahmoud, in response, thanked the Emir for his support and underscored the strong fraternal ties between Somalia and Qatar, the statement added.
The attack on the president’s motorcade occurred earlier this week, though specific details about the incident, including casualties or the exact date, were not immediately released by Somali authorities.
Saturday’s call highlights the ongoing diplomatic relationship between the two countries amid Somalia’s efforts to combat extremist groups like al-Shabab, which has waged a yearslong insurgency in the region.
Neither leader’s office provided further comment on the call.
