Somalia has restored direct diplomatic relations with the Maldives, after nearly 40 years of limited relations.
The move came after the Somali Ambassador to India, Dr. Abdullahi Mohamed Odowa, presented his credentials to the President of the Maldives, Dr. Mohamed Muu’izu, becoming the non-resident ambassador to Somalia.
The ceremony, which took place at the Maldives Presidential Palace in Malé, was held under full diplomatic protocol, with both sides discussing strengthening bilateral cooperation and security issues in the Indian Ocean region.
Somalia and Maldives relations were first established in 1988, but the collapse of the central government in Somalia and civil wars caused diplomatic relations to be suspended for a long time.
The two countries share ties that include membership in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and being countries in the Indian Ocean, which have significant interests in fisheries, maritime economy, trade and waterway security.
President Mohamed Muu’izu and Ambassador Odowa also discussed ways to expand bilateral cooperation, especially in the areas of regional peace and security.
The Somali government has been making significant efforts in recent years to expand its international relations, using the non-resident ambassador model to increase its diplomatic presence in many countries.
However, experts say that the restoration of diplomatic relations needs to move beyond the symbolic level and into real cooperation that benefits both peoples.
