Officials have discussed cooperation in politics, trade, economy, as well as joint efforts to counter the terrorist threat in the region

Russia's special presidential envoy for the Middle East and Africa, Mikhail Bogdanov, and Somali officials have agreed to expand cooperation between the two countries in security, politics, trade, and economic areas, the Foreign Ministry in Moscow announced on Sunday.

According to a ministry statement, Bogdanov held talks with Somali Foreign Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiki while on an official visit to the East African country, where he was received by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

"During the exchange of views on current international and regional issues, including taking into account Somalia's membership in the UN Security Council in 2025-2026, special attention was paid to the tasks of interaction on issues of ensuring peace and security in the Horn of Africa, with an emphasis on the need to quickly eradicate the terrorist threat in the region," the ministry stated.

The two sides also discussed the progress of implementing a memorandum of consultations signed by their foreign ministries in May 2023, as well as the upcoming 65th anniversary of Russian-Somali diplomatic relations on September 11.

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Somalia continues to face security threats posed by the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Al-Shabaab group, which has been carrying out attacks targeting civilians, government officials, and security forces for more than a decade. Mogadishu, supported by African Union peacekeepers and international partners, has been engaged in ongoing military operations aimed at reclaiming territory and stabilizing the country.

Somali authorities have intensified campaigns to weaken the operational capacity of the militants following renewed assaults in recent months. Last month, terrorists killed an unknown number of civilians in abomb attackon President Mohamud's convoy as he traveled through the capital.

The incident occurred only one week after Al-Shabaab gunmen attacked a hotel in Beledweyne, central Somalia, where local leaders and government officials had met to plan an offensive against the terrorist organization.

Just hours after the meeting with Bogdanov on Sunday, Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre reshuffled his cabinet, appointing Foreign Minister Fiqi Ahmed as the new defense minister.

(RT.com)