Somalia signs strategic deals with Algeria

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) signed strategic deals with Algeria, marking a new beginning for the relationship between the two countries, which share a close relationship given that they are members of the Arab League of Nations.

While in Algiers, the capital of Algeria, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud held sessions with his counterpart Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who watched as their ministers signed a series of major agreements.

These are not just symbolic gestures. The pacts are designed to build a practical, real-world partnership. They focus on core building blocks of national growth: energy, education, and economic development, experts said.

During the signing ceremony, the ministers laid a firm foundation for future partnerships, including Somalia’s oil and gas sector, which is yet to be fully exploited. They also discussed opportunities in Somalia’s livestock market.

In his speech, President Mohamud warmly thanked President Tebboune and the people of Algeria for their “brotherhood.” He highlighted Algeria’s long-standing role as a defender of African interests, a sentiment that set the stage for one of the day’s most significant announcements.

Algeria pledged to issue 500 scholarships for Somali students as a gesture towards building future professionals and a skilled force, as the country battles with the state-building process, over three decades since the ouster of Siad Barre.

They will target degrees in agriculture, fisheries, and petroleum management. These are the very skills the nation needs to power its reconstruction, he said.

GAROWE ONLINE