Istanbul, (SONNA) – The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Federal Government of Somalia, H.E. Abdisalam Abdi Ali, met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the friendly Republic of Azerbaijan, H.E. Jeyhun Bayramov, on Sunday in Istanbul, Turkiye, on the sidelines of the 51st Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and discussed with him ways to strengthen bilateral relations and enhance cooperation.
Both ministers expressed satisfaction with the steady development of political ties since diplomatic relations were established in 2019. They highlighted President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s visit to Baku in February 2025 as a milestone that led to the signing of key bilateral agreements.
Discussions included Azerbaijan’s scholarship program aimed at Somali students, which is expected to strengthen human capital development. The two sides also explored governance reforms inspired by Azerbaijan’s ASAN Service and agreed to expand agricultural cooperation following a recent memorandum of understanding.
To oversee the implementation of agreements and explore new areas of partnership, the ministers agreed to establish a Joint Intergovernmental Commission, with plans to hold regular sessions alternating between the two countries.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to deepen cooperation within multilateral platforms such as the OIC, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the United Nations, focusing on peace, development, and mutual prosperity.
