MOGADISHU (SONNA) — The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, H.E. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, received a high-level delegation from the United Kingdom on Thursday, led by the Minister for International Development and Africa, Baroness Jenny Chapman. The visit, which marked the Minister’s first official trip to Mogadishu, culminated in the announcement of over £6 million in new humanitarian funding to address the escalating drought crisis facing the nation.
During the meeting at the National Presidency, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud briefed the delegation on the tangible progress Somalia has achieved in state-building, security, and the democratization process. The President highlighted the strategic importance of the relationship between Somalia and the UK, particularly in the areas of security cooperation, economic development, and investment promotion.
Baroness Chapman utilized the visit to articulate a strategic shift in the UK’s approach to Somalia. She emphasized that the relationship is evolving from a traditional donor-recipient model to an “investment-driven development partnership” designed to strengthen Somali resilience and support economic opportunity. The newly announced £6 million funding is part of a broader £61 million UK package allocated for the 2025/26 financial year, aimed at bilaterally addressing both immediate humanitarian needs and the underlying drivers of crisis in the country.
The funding will be channeled through established mechanisms such as the African Risk Capacity (ARC) and the Start Network to ensure rapid support for the most vulnerable communities. In addition to her discussions with the President, the Minister met with leadership from the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) and the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) to reaffirm the UK’s commitment to the country’s long-term security and stability.
President Hassan Sheikh expressed the Federal Government’s profound gratitude for the UK’s continuous support, specifically acknowledging their role in counter-terrorism efforts and the implementation of development plans that prioritize the needs of the Somali people.
