Somalia: President Farmajo meets with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince

ABU DHABI, UAE - Somali President Mohammad Abdullah Mohammad Farmajo, who is visiting the UAE met with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces on Monday, Garowe Online reports.

During the meeting which took place at the State Palace, the two leaders have discussed on ways to cooperate in the fight against terrorism and maintain the security in Somalia as well as the region.

The talks between President Farmajo and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince have also focused on development issues, humanitarian programmes and reconstruction projects carried out by the UAE in Somalia.

Somali president has briefed the Emir on his Federal government’s efforts to implement development programmes and combat against the Al Qaeda-linked Al Shabaab group and other extremists.

For his part, Sheikh Mohammed said the UAE will continue supporting Somalia and its people in building their national institutions and maintaining its security and stability.

GO has learned, citing sources at the meeting that Somali President thanked UAE its continued support to Somalia during the meeting with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.

An honor to have had fruitful discussions on further strengthening our bilateral and trade ties with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed. #UAE #partnership

— Mohamed Farmaajo (@M_Farmaajo) November 21, 2017 

The meeting ended in a harmonic atmosphere and the two leaders agreed on several areas touching on the bilateral relations between Somalia and UAE that have not yet been disclosed to the Media.

The sources added that President Farmajo and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed held a private closed-door meeting that has raged on "an hour and a half" which focused on key issues.

On the other hand, the visiting President met with a group of Somali businessmen and women at his hotel room in Abu Dhabi and briefed them about the outcome of his talks with Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.

The President and his delegation will leave Abu Dhabi for Mogadishu after concluding his two-day visit to the UAE, which was the second trip since taking the oath of office in February 2017.

This visit comes as Somalia's relations with UAE and Saudi Arabia has gone low after the Federal Government took a neutral decision on the Gulf diplomatic crises began on June 5, 2017. 

GAROWE ONLINE