Uzbekistan and Somalia establish diplomatic relations  

On February 5, Uzbekistan and Somalia officially established diplomatic relations with the signing of a joint communiqué in New York, as reported by the "Dunyo" news agency.  

The document was signed on behalf of both governments by Uzbekistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ulugbek Lapasov, and Somalia’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Abukar Dahir Usman. With this agreement, the Federal Republic of Somalia becomes the 157th country to establish diplomatic ties with Uzbekistan.  

During the meeting, both sides agreed to enhance cooperation in political, economic, cultural, and humanitarian fields, exploring mutually beneficial opportunities for collaboration.  

The signing of this document was recognized as a significant step for Uzbekistan in strengthening its engagement with African nations.  

For reference, Somalia is located in East Africa on the Somali Peninsula. The country possesses oil and gas reserves, while its economy is primarily driven by livestock, with fishing also playing a key role. Additionally, Somalia exports products such as bananas, mangoes, sesame, and corn. Its coastline is bordered by the Indian Ocean.  

It is worth noting that in late September 2024, Uzbekistan also established diplomatic relations with the Commonwealth of the Bahamas in Central America. That agreement was formalized through a joint communiqué signed by the countries’ foreign ministers, Bakhtiyor Saidov and Frederick Mitchell.  

                                                                       Sara Komiljonova