Qatar makes efforts to mediate between Somali Govt and Al-Shabaab

In 2019, The New York Times reported that Qatar plotted a bomb attack in Bossaso against the interest of its rival Gulf country – UAE which invested in the city’s seaport.

News Keydmedia Online
27 October 2022

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud held phone talks with the emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani on bilateral relations between the two countries.

Villa Somalia announced that Mohamud has made the contact and initiated the telephone conversation with Qatar’s emir and did not provide further details.

“President Hassan Sheikh has on Wednesday spoken on the phone to Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad and discussed bilateral relations between the two countries,” Villa Somalia reported.

The president is seeking support from international partners for the ongoing war on Al-Shabaab, which has been making significant gains for the past three months.

The military operation is underway in central regions – Hiran, Galgadud and Middle Shabelle, where the army along with pro-government militia claimed a big victory.

Early this month, there were reports that Qatar was trying to halt the SNA military operation and mediate the first-ever talks between Al-Shabaab and the Somali government.

Qatar is believed to have links with the Taliban that facilitated the group’s deal with the US about the withdrawal of the NATO foreign forces in Afghanistan in August last year.

In 2019, The New York Times reported that Qatar plotted a bomb attack in Bossaso against the interest of its rival Gulf country – UAE which invested in the city’s seaport.

In 2017, several Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt cut off all ties with Qatar after accusing the country of supporting terrorism, a claim that Doha denied.

Qatar has recently replaced its ambassador to Somalia after a leadership change at Villa Somalia. This came after its ally – Farmajo failed the second term in office in May presidential election in Mogadishu.

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