MOGADISHU, Somalia - The President of Somalia's Federal Government Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo is expected to pay a state visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) next week, Garowe Online reports.

Sources at Villa Somalia said Ministers, Federal lawmakers, and other high-ranking officials will be accompanying President Farmajo on his trip to UAE scheduled to begin next Sunday, November 19.

GO learned that President's travel came after receiving an official invitation from UAE authorities. This will be the second visit since he was elected the 9th President of Somalia on February 8, 2017.

The trip by Somali President to UAE comes amid frosty relations between the two countries over the Federal Government's neutral position on the diplomatic rift between the Gulf states began June 5.

Last August, Farmajo has made a visit to Egypt, one of the Saudi-led Arab countries that cut off ties with Qatar, and met his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fatah El-Sisi in Cairo.

El-Sisi was reported to be mediating between Somalia and UAE, in an attempt to bring the two nations closer on the issue of the Gulf  Crisis. It's not clear whether this visit will change Somalia's stance towards the GCC rift.

GAROWE ONLINE