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Somalia’s Speaker of the House of the People, Sheikh Aden Mohamed Nur Madoobe, held a meeting on Sunday with Britain’s newly appointed ambassador to Somalia, Charles King, to discuss ways of deepening ties between the two countries. The meeting came shortly after the United Kingdom announced new financial support aimed at strengthening Somalia’s security forces.
Ambassador King, who recently started his diplomatic posting in Mogadishu, said his top priority is to strengthen cooperation between Britain and Somalia. He emphasized the UK’s continued commitment to stand with Somalia as it works to achieve peace, stability, and progress. For decades, Britain has played an important role in supporting Somalia, especially in areas like development assistance, security support, and governance reforms. King underlined that this partnership would remain at the center of his work in the country.
Speaker Madoobe welcomed the ambassador and expressed Somalia’s appreciation for the UK’s enduring support. He thanked Britain for its contributions to Somalia’s development and security, and for its help in state-building efforts over the years. Madoobe also briefed King on the work of the Somali Parliament, pointing out ongoing preparations to complete the long-delayed constitutional review. He stressed that Somalia is determined to deliver one-person, one-vote elections in the coming years, restoring the constitutional right of citizens to directly elect their leaders.
The meeting came just days after Britain pledged an additional £6 million, equivalent to about $8 million, to support Somalia’s security forces. The funding will go into the Somali Security Forces (SSF) Trust Fund, which is managed by the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS). This trust fund plays a critical role in financing Somali forces as they continue to take on greater security responsibilities from international partners. Currently, the fund supports 18,900 Somali personnel, but with this new commitment and plans under UN Security Council Resolution 2767 passed in December 2024, the support is expected to expand to cover 20,900 personnel.
For Somalia, this support comes at a crucial time. The country is still fighting the al-Shabaab insurgency, which remains the most serious threat to its security and stability. Although Somali forces, supported by international partners, have made significant gains, the progress is fragile and requires sustained backing from allies like the UK. Strengthening Somali institutions, especially security forces and parliament, is seen as essential to advancing state-building and ensuring that the country does not slip back into instability.
Both sides agreed that renewed cooperation between Mogadishu and London is vital to protecting Somalia’s hard-won progress. For Somalia’s leadership, the UK’s support goes beyond financial contributions—it represents a broader partnership in development, governance, and nation-building. For Britain, helping Somalia achieve stability is also part of a global effort to strengthen peace and security in the Horn of Africa region.
The meeting between Speaker Madoobe and Ambassador King highlighted the close ties between Somalia and the UK, built on years of cooperation and shared goals. It also marked an important step in ensuring that Somalia receives the support it needs to complete its constitution, build stronger institutions, and deliver democratic elections that reflect the will of its people. Both leaders stressed that the challenges Somalia faces require joint effort, commitment, and trust, and that together, Somalia and the UK can move closer to achieving a more secure and prosperous future for the Somali people.