MANAMA – In a significant diplomatic move, Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre met with Djibouti’s President Ismail Omar Guelleh on the sidelines of the 33rd session of the Arab League summit in Manama, Bahrain, on May 16, 2024.
This meeting aimed to strengthen bilateral relations between Somalia and Djibouti, both of which are grappling with the challenges posed by terrorism and the need for regional cooperation in the security sector, as well as in the fields of economy, culture, education, and health.
The high-level talks were part of a broader effort to enhance cooperation between the two nations. The leaders discussed ways to boost the ties between Somalia and Djibouti, which share a historic, brotherly, and neighborhood bond. Prime Minister Barre thanked President Guelleh for his support of Somalia since the collapse of the central government in 1991.
The meeting took place against the backdrop of the Arab League summit, where leaders from across the Arab world gathered to discuss current events in the Red Sea, the threat to navigation in the Arabian Gulf, border problems between Djibouti and Eritrea, the bloody conflict in Sudan, and several other Arab countries.
The summit also aimed to re-present the Arab initiative that was put forward in 2002, which stipulates that the Arab countries recognize Israel in exchange for the establishment of a Palestinian state within the borders of June 7, 1976.
This meeting between Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre and Djibouti’s President Ismail Omar Guelleh is a significant step towards enhancing cooperation and addressing shared challenges between the two nations.
It reflects the commitment of both countries to work together for the benefit of their citizens and the stability of the region.
