MOGADISHU — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has returned from the United States after attending the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, with a planned meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly not taking place.
According to information cited by the Horn Focus News Desk, the Somali presidency made efforts to arrange meetings between Hassan Sheikh and senior U.S. officials, including Rubio, during the president’s visit to New York.
The report claims that the Somali president was informed that there would be no opportunity for a meeting with Rubio, with the decision reportedly communicated before Hassan Sheikh left for the United States.
The development has raised questions over earlier reports attributed to Villa Somalia suggesting that the Somali president was expected to meet with the U.S. secretary of state during his visit.
While in New York, Hassan Sheikh held meetings with several officials and foreign leaders. On September 23, he also met with Frank Garcia, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs.
However, according to the report, the anticipated meeting between Hassan Sheikh and Rubio did not take place.
The Somali presidency has not, in the information provided, publicly confirmed the reported reasons for the absence of a meeting between the two officials.
