MOGADISHU, Somalia Jul 30 2012 (Garowe Online) – Deputy Prime Minister of Ireland visited Mogadishu to meet with the Somali officials on Sunday, Garowe Online reports.
Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore who traveled to Somalia on a furtive trip, met with Transitional Federal Government (TFG) Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali Gaas and TFG cabinet ministers in the capital on Sunday.
This is the first Irish government official to visit Somalia since 1992 when then President of Ireland, Mary Robinson visited the capital.
Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore in his six hour visit travelled to a school run by an Irish aid agency and traveled to an internally displaced peoples (IDPs) camp.
Despite seeing substandard living conditions and hearing hardships from the people living in those camps, Tánaiste Gilmore was surprised that the spirit of the children was not broken.
“But we have also seen the resilience of this people and the positive outlook of all these kids,” said Tánaiste Gilmore.
Mr. Gilmore, who is also the Irish Foreign Minister, promised that his country would support Somalia throughout these hard times.
“Believe me, we will stay with you. We will see through the difficult times,” said Tánaiste Gilmore.
TFG Prime Minister Gaas thanked Tanaiste Gilmore for his visit to Somalia and Irelands’ contribution to Somalia’s plight.
