Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Federal Republic of Somalia H E Hassan bin Hamza Hashem, praised the strong brotherly relations that bind the two countries, stressing that the relations between the two countries are heading towards more strength and rapprochement.
He said, in a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA), that the visit of HE President of the Federal Republic of Somalia Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo, to the State of Qatar today comes within the framework of the strong bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries, and that it will contribute to strengthening relations between Doha and Mogadishu in various fields, especially in light of the brotherly relationship between Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and his brother, President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo.
In this context, the Ambassador stressed that the bilateral relations between the two countries have witnessed a great development during the past years, as the State of Qatar has provided development support in several areas, including financing roads linking the capital, Mogadishu, with the cities of Afgoye and Jowhar, stressing that they are projects that benefit the Somali economy as a whole, as it links the production areas in the two cities with the capital’s markets.
He explained that the State of Qatar, represented by Qatar Fund for Development, also undertook the rehabilitation and reconstruction of a number of government buildings, including the Government Building, the Mogadishu Municipality headquarters, and the Diplomatic Institute of the Somali Foreign Ministry, in addition to providing 68 armored vehicles from the Qatari Ministry of Defense to support the Somali armed forces in their fight against terrorism.
He stressed that the Qatari support was widely welcomed by the official and popular circles in Somalia.
On the humanitarian support provided by Qatar to Somalia in light of a number of difficulties it faces, including natural disasters, he indicated that the war that Somalia witnessed in previous periods and natural disasters, left effects and conditions that made the country in dire need of relief and humanitarian support, pointing out that Qatari charitable institutions and societies are active in providing humanitarian support, where the offices of Qatar Red Crescent Society and Qatar Charity have implemented projects in the fields of education, health, response to floods and droughts that strike the country on a seasonal basis, as well as construction Mosques, schools, hospitals and health centers, sponsoring orphans and students, distributing baskets and foodstuffs, and holding a collective iftar in the blessed month of Ramadan.
In response to a question regarding the agreements signed between Qatar and Somalia, the Ambassador said that within the framework of the development of relations between the two countries, a number of agreements were signed in various fields, most notably agreements in the field of education, investment, prevention of financial evasion and double taxation, political consultation, and the field of civil aviation.
With regard to the most prominent Qatari projects currently being implemented in Somalia, HE the Ambassador said that in the development field, Qatar Fund for Development is working on completing the road project linking the capital Mogadishu and the city of Jowhar with a length of 90 km, and Qatar Airways also launched flights to and from the capital Mogadishu in 2019.
He concluded his statement to (QNA) by emphasizing the existence of high-level coordination and cooperation between the leaderships of the two countries, and they cooperate in international forums, pointing out that the State of Qatar played an important role in containing the diplomatic crisis between Somalia and Kenya, and the mediation led by Qatar succeeded in resuming the relations between Mogadishu and Nairobi.
