The Somali Prime Minister Hassan Ali Kheire has today departed for official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia amid past standoff between Somalia and the coalition lead by Saudi Arabia over the Qatar blockade.
The PM accompanied by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Information, Commerce and industries and lawmakers from the Federal Republic of Somalia flew in a specially chartered plane sent from the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Premier Kheyre tweeted, “Today I left the country for Saudi Arabia on an official visit at the invitation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and I will meet with officials there for bilateral talks to enhance relations between the two brotherly countries,”
The visit follows Somalia’s reiteration of its neutrality last year over the on ongoing Gulf crisis which saw Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) cut their diplomatic ties with Qatar.
Speaking to media, Dahir Mohamud Gelleh, Information Minister of the Federal Government stated the Prime Minister will hold meetings with the leaders of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia aimed at strengthening the bilateral ties between the two nations.
Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo paid previous high level visits to Saudi Arabia and met with Saudi King Salman Bin Abdulaziz, however, Saudi Arabia has yet to translate into action previous financial support it pledged to the Somali Government.
