Mogadishu mayor and Banadir governor Yussuf Hussein Madaale on Thursday received Ahmad Juma Al Rumaith, the new UAE Ambassador to Somalia.
Mayor Yussuf Hussein Madaale wished the new diplomat success in his efforts to enhance ties between the two countries while highlighting Mogadishu’s readiness to support him in his duties.
Al Rumaithi expressed his pride at representing the UAE in the Federal Republic of Somalia and his keenness to continue developing bilateral relations in key fields to strengthen the bonds of friendship between the two countries.
During the meeting, both sides discussed ways to enhance bilateral relations in order to achieve the aspirations of the two countries and peoples.
The meeting addressed the prospects to enhance cooperation between the two nations in various fields, especially in areas of development, with the two sides discussing the ongoing efforts to establish peace in Somalia.
He reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to support the Somali people in their state-building efforts towards a future of peace and stability, stressing the UAE’s keenness to strengthen the efforts made by the Somali government and state institutions in areas of construction, development and stability.
Last year president Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan appointed Ahmed Juma Al Zaabi as Adviser to the UAE President with the rank of Minister.
Earlier in 2018, President Sheikh Khalifa issued a Decree appointing Ahmed Jumaa Al Zaabi as Minister of the Federal Supreme Council at the Ministry of Presidential Affairs.
He was also Deputy Chairman of the Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation, and former Board Member of Abu Dhabi Fund for Development.
He also held the position of Deputy Minister of Presidential Affairs and Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Amiri Aviation Authority in 2002.
Al Zaabi began his professional life in 1976, when he graduated and occupied several positions through which he gained practical experience in many fields, including Director of the Crown Prince’s Office with the rank of Assistant Undersecretary in 1990.
The United Arab Emirates and Somalia had a diplomatic row during the tenure of President Mohamed Abdullahi Faramajo as division between gulf countries grew.
Tensions between Somalia and the United Arab Emirates ratcheted up in 2018 as Mogadishu ditched a military deal with its ally and seized millions of dollars in cash from an Emirati plane.
Somali security forces seized funds allocated for training Somali troops and assaulted Emirati soldiers on board an Emirati airplane at Mogadishu airport.
Gradually UAE has since been heavily present in the humanitarian sector which is one the UAE’s foreign policies to support affected communities around the world through crises and disasters by implementing relief and humanitarian programmes and projects.
