Somalia president to attend UNGA after renouncing US citizenship

MOGADISHU, Somalia – The President of Somalia, Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo is likely to attend the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meeting in September this year, government sources said, Garowe Online reports.

The United Nations, in a statement issued on Friday, announced that the 74th session of the UNGA will commence on September 17, 2019, with leaders from across the world, including Somali president will be in attendance.

No official announcement about the president trip to the New York City has been made yet.

This will be the first time, Somali leader to participate in the annual UN General Assembly since coming to office on February 2017. The previous two years Somalia was represented by the PM Hassan Ali Khaire and Foreign Minister.

In early last month, Farmajo has voluntarily renounced his American citizenship, without elaborating on why the dual citizen chose to give up his adopted passport.

The president lived in the United States for many years, serving as a diplomat in Washington in the late 1980s before seeking asylum. The father of four children’s family still lives in the US.

In addition, he served in various administrative roles in the US before returning to his native Somalia as prime minister in 2010, a position he would only hold for eight months.

He was later elected president in February 2017 and his administration developed close ties with Washington in its fight against Al Shabab. The US trains Somali Special Forces and launches regular drone strikes in the country.

GAROWE ONLINE