NEW YORK (HAN) — Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani met Tuesday with his Somali counterpart Abdisalam Abdi Ali on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, officials said.
The meeting, held at Bahrain’s Permanent Mission to the UN, centered on ways to strengthen bilateral ties and explore new areas of cooperation between the two countries. Both sides also exchanged views on regional developments, international challenges and issues of mutual concern.
Al Zayani congratulated Abdisalam on his recent appointment as Somalia’s top diplomat and reaffirmed Bahrain’s commitment to advancing cooperation across political, economic and security fields. He stressed the importance of closer coordination, particularly as both Bahrain and Somalia are currently serving as nonpermanent members of the UN Security Council.
The Bahraini minister also underscored his country’s support for Somalia’s stability and development, while Abdisalam highlighted the importance of Bahrain’s partnership in supporting regional peace and cooperation.
The talks were attended by Ambassador Jamal Faris Al Ruwaie, Bahrain’s permanent representative to the UN, and Ambassador Shaikh Abdullah bin Ali Al Khalifa, director general of bilateral relations at Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry.
Diplomatic observers said the meeting reflected a growing interest by Gulf states in expanding engagement with the Horn of Africa, particularly as Somalia works to consolidate security gains and strengthen its international partnerships.
