Somali Prime Minister, Hamsa Abdi Barre, said that Somalia and Qatar are strengthening their security and defense cooperation, noting that the defense cooperation agreement between the two countries will help build strong and professional Somali security institutions and a military.
Hamsa Abdi Barre, in an exclusive interview with Qatar’s Al Sharq newspaper, said that the relationship between Somalia and Qatar has entered a new stage based on strategic cooperation, which includes the political, economic, investment, security and defense sectors.
The Prime Minister said that Somalia seeks long-term cooperation with Qatar and the Gulf countries, which is not limited to crisis management, but also focuses on investment in infrastructure, energy, ports, food security and economic development.
Hamsa Abdi Barre stressed that the independence, unity and territorial integrity of Somalia are non-negotiable issues, saying that the federal government rejects any action that undermines the territorial integrity of Somalia.
Speaking on the situation in Somaliland, he said that the Somali government still believes that internal disputes can be resolved through dialogue between Somali parties. He also warned against foreign interference and any attempt to create a new political reality in Somalia.
The Somali Prime Minister reiterated Mogadishu’s position on any plan to relocate Palestinians to Somalia. He said that Somalia will not become another country to settle Palestinians, and will not be part of a plan to displace the Palestinian people or undermine their cause.
Hamsa said that the Palestinian people have the right to live in their own country with freedom and dignity.
The Prime Minister also spoke about security in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, expressing concern about regional tensions and their potential impact on shipping and international trade. He said that Somalia supports de-escalation, dialogue and diplomatic solutions, noting that maritime security is important to Somalia as it has a strategic coastline on one of the world’s most important waterways.
He also praised Qatar’s role in efforts to reduce tensions and promote diplomatic solutions.
When asked about the fight against Al-Shabaab, Hamsa Abdi Barre said that the Somali government has claimed to have recaptured large areas of land from the group over the past four years, and destroyed bases and strongholds where the group was strong.
He said that the fight is not limited to military operations, but that the government is also focusing on cutting off the group’s financial resources, combating extremist ideology, and rebuilding administration and government services in areas where the group has been expelled.
The Prime Minister said that the government will offer amnesty to members of the group who lay down their arms, renounce extremist ideology, and return to society.
Hamsa Abdi Barre finally said that the goal of the Somali government is for the country to have the ability to defend itself, maintain its independence, and play a role in the security and stability of the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea.
