MOGADISHU, (HAN) — The Minister of Defence of the Kingdom of Sweden, Mr. Pal Jonson, has arrived in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, for an official visit aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and enhancing cooperation in the areas of defence and security between the two nations.
Mr. Jonson and his delegation were warmly received at Aden Adde International Airport by Somalia’s State Minister of Defence, Mr. Omar Ali Abdi, and the Deputy Chief of Defence Forces, Brigadier General Maday Nurey Ufurow.
During his visit, the Swedish Defence Minister is scheduled to hold high-level meetings with senior officials of the Federal Government of Somalia, including Somalia’s Minister of Defence, Mr. Ahmed Moalim Fiqi. The talks are expected to focus on expanding Sweden’s support for Somalia’s ongoing efforts to build a professional and capable national army, improve security sector governance, and promote regional stability.
Sweden has been a long-standing development and humanitarian partner to Somalia, contributing to peacebuilding, governance, and gender equality initiatives through the European Union and United Nations frameworks. The current visit marks a significant step in advancing direct bilateral defence engagement between Mogadishu and Stockholm.
The discussions are also expected to address cooperation in areas such as training, military capacity building, and counter-terrorism support, particularly in the fight against Al-Shabaab, the militant group that continues to threaten Somalia’s security and stability.
Minister Jonson’s visit underscores Sweden’s commitment to supporting Somalia’s path toward stability, self-reliance, and sustainable peace. It comes at a time when Somalia is consolidating recent security gains and preparing to take full responsibility for its national security as the African Union transition mission in Somalia (ATMIS) gradually draws down its presence.
The visit reflects growing international confidence in Somalia’s security institutions and highlights the importance of collective efforts to maintain peace and stability in the Horn of Africa region.
