Thursday October 16, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — The governments of Somalia and Azerbaijan
have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) granting mutual visa exemptions
for holders of diplomatic passports, marking a significant step in
strengthening diplomatic and bilateral relations between the two nations.
The agreement was signed in Kampala by Somalia’s State
Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ali Mohamed Omar,
and Azerbaijan’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samir Sharifov, on the
sidelines of the 19th Intersessional Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)
Foreign Ministers.
Under the new arrangement, diplomatic passport holders from
both countries will be able to travel without visas, reflecting a shared
commitment to fostering closer cooperation and facilitating high-level
exchanges.
The signing ceremony was attended by Hamza Adan Hadow,
Permanent Secretary of Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International
Cooperation; Ambassador Fardowsa Mohamed Qanyare Afrah, Somalia’s envoy to
Uganda; and senior officials from Azerbaijan.
Both delegations discussed expanding cooperation,
strengthening bilateral relations, and exploring new areas of mutual interest —
reaffirming the growing partnership between Somalia and Azerbaijan.