Somalia: New embassy in Baghdad amid growing Iranian interests

MOGADISHU, Somalia, October 16, 2015 (Garowe Online Exclusive)-Somalia’s Federal Government (SFG) re-opened embassy in Iraq, a close ally of Shiite power, Iran which tries to gain foothold in the East African Nation, Garowe Online reports.

On Thursday, Somali Foreign Minister Abdisalan Omar Hadliye joined the chairman of parliamentary sub-committee on External Affairs, Abdulkadir Osoble Ali, Somali envoy to Kuwait and Interim Galmudug Administration leader, Abdikarin Hussein Gulled, whose wife Khadija Mohamed Makhsoumi is new ambassador to Iraq in officially launching the country’s diplomatic mission in Baghdad.

On June 22, Iraqi President Fuad Masom received letter of credence from Makhsoumi in a credentialing ceremony.

Economic reasons are believed to have caused fresh diplomatic ties on the horizon for the two countries, plagued by militancy.

Somalia was reliant on petroleum deliveries by oil-rich Iraq that constructed refinery complex with a daily capacity of 10k barrels in the country in 1980 to process crude oil donations.

According to diplomatic sources, Somali politicians are pushing for resumption of Iraqi oil aid for Somalia-something likely to be revived through new embassy in Baghdad.

Reports obtained by Garowe Online indicate that cabals associated with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud re-sold Iraq-donated fuel to Somali businessmen in recent months.

In August, Iran dispatched diplomats to the northeastern state of Puntland to persuade Somali officials to grant fishing vessels ‘licenses’ ,and allow ticked presence of Iranian humanitarian organizations.

According to Iranian News Agency, Fars , Iran Red Crescent Society is planning to renew humanitarian assistance in Somalia, possibly for the looming El Nino crisis.

In November 2012, Iran stepped up its involvement in Somalia on the heels of report by United Nations monitors on arms shipment dispatched by Iran in exchange for Uranium deposits in 2006 in violation of United Nations arms embargo.

Iraq, a staunch neighbor of Iran could broker new deals on the exploitation of large reserves of Uranium in central Somalia, where Makhsoumi’s husband, Gulled calls the shots.

In July, Iran struck a historic agreement with the west on limits on its nuclear activities in exchange for lifting sanctions.

Former Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Akbar Salehi paid first visit by a top Iranian official to Mogadishu, cutting the ribbon for Iranian embassy.

At the height of the country’s worst famine in 2011, Iranian Red Crescent Society and Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation played larger role in humanitarian assistances. The foundations managed educational centers and Qur’an schools as part of campaign by Iran to spread Shiite Islam.

READ:
Somalia: Islamic Scholars move to preach against Shia doctrine

GAROWE ONLINE