By HAN News Desk
MOGADISHU — Somalia and South Korea have reaffirmed their diplomatic ties as Mogadishu intensifies efforts to rally international backing for its sovereignty and territorial integrity amid rising tensions in the Horn of Africa.
Somalia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdisalam Abdi Ali, held virtual talks Monday with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, focusing on strengthening bilateral relations and regional security cooperation, Somali officials said.
According to a statement from Somalia’s foreign ministry, Cho reaffirmed South Korea’s “full respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia,” underscoring Seoul’s adherence to the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other states.
The talks also addressed maritime security in the Gulf of Aden, a key global shipping route that has seen increased instability due to regional conflicts and attacks linked to Yemen’s Houthi rebels. South Korea maintains a permanent naval presence in the area through its Cheonghae Unit, which has been deployed for more than a decade to protect commercial shipping from piracy.
The diplomatic engagement comes as Somalia seeks to counter what it describes as growing challenges to its internationally recognized borders. Tensions have escalated following Israel’s recognition of the self-declared republic of Somaliland and Ethiopia’s pursuit of access to the Red Sea through an agreement with Somaliland authorities in Hargeisa — developments Mogadishu has condemned as illegal and a violation of its sovereignty.
Somalia assumed a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council on Jan. 1 and has since stepped up diplomatic outreach to secure clear and public affirmations of its territorial integrity from international partners, particularly in Asia and the Middle East.
Officials in Mogadishu say the government views such diplomatic backing as essential to preserving regional stability and upholding international law in the Horn of Africa.
