Qatar–Somalia relations

Qatar–Somalia relations
Map indicating locations of Qatar and Somalia

Qatar
Somalia

Qatar–Somalia relations are the bilateral relations between Qatar and Somalia. The two countries formally established relations in 1970 and are both members of the Arab League and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

Overview

The two countries formally established diplomatic ties in 1970. Qatar supported and welcomed the outcome of the Somali National Reconciliation Conference held in Djibouti in September 2000. Furthermore, it supported reconciliation conferences held in both Khartoum and Djibouti to end the political and security crises affecting Somalia.

Development cooperation

In March 2015, Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke led talks with the Prime Minister of Qatar, Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani. The gathering focused on strengthening investment, commerce, and governance ties between both territories, with an emphasis on stabilization initiatives. It concluded with a signed cooperative agreement in the civil aviation and education sectors. According to Sharmarke, the treaty aims to accelerate the ongoing reconstruction and development process in Somalia and to buttress local job creation. Among the agreement's stipulations, Qatar Airways is scheduled to launch direct flights to the Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu.[1][2]

In August 2019, Qatar launched a project to build a new port in Hobyo, a central town in Somalia. Qatar stated that the project would benefit the people of Somalia.[3] The Ministry of Ports (Somalia) said “the launching of the project to build the port of Hobyo will create job opportunities for the Somali citizens and contribute to the economy of the country.”[4]

Agreements

A labor agreement on the recruitment of Somali workers in the State of Qatar was signed in 1983.[5]

Diplomatic missions

The Federal Republic of Somalia maintains an embassy in Doha. The diplomatic mission is led by Ambassador Abdirizak Farah Ali. Qatar also has an embassy in Mogadishu, led by Ambassador Hasan Bin Hamza Asad Mohammed.[5]

Qatari influence on Somali politics

Qatar is the main backer of Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed.[6] Qatari money is alleged to have influenced the 2012 and 2017 election outcomes through bribery,[7] as well as attempts to remove Somali Federal State leaders who did not cooperate with the Qatar. There have also been allegations that Qatar has ties to Al-Shabaab. These issues are said to have had a destabilizing influence in Somalia which the West has 'turned a blind eye' to.[8][9]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Somalia and Qatar sign Education and Civil Aviation agreements". Horseed Media. 18 March 2015. Archived from the original on 20 March 2015. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  2. ^ "SOMALIA: Prime Minister Sharmarke meets with Qatar's Prime Minister in Doha as two nations ink co-operation agreements on Education and Aviation". Raxanreeb. 19 March 2015. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  3. ^ "Qatar Plans to Build New Port in Central Somalia Town of Hobyo". Bloomberg. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  4. ^ "Qatar launches construction work in central Somalia port". Middle East Monitor. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  5. ^ a b "The Somali Republic". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar. Archived from the original on 8 August 2016. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
  6. ^ taz-ali (2021-10-18). "The UK's 'deep' ties with Qatar, as police investigate Sir David Amess' links with Gulf state". inews.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-10-22.
  7. ^ Gettleman, Jeffrey (2017-02-07). "Fueled by Bribes, Somalia's Election Seen as Milestone of Corruption". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-10-22.
  8. ^ "As Farmaajo digs in with Qatari backing, Somalia's election crisis grows worse". Middle East Institute. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
  9. ^ Ali, Abdullahi Mohamed (2020-06-22). "Somalia Must Save Itself from Qatar". The National Interest. Retrieved 2021-09-10.