MOGADISHU (SONNA) — Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh successfully executed a highly targeted two-day diplomatic mission to Somalia from February 23 to 24. Conducted ahead of International Women’s Day, the visit strategically elevated the operational profile of Somali organizations championing women’s rights and centered national attention on the resilience of survivors of conflict-related sexual violence.
The diplomatic mission commenced with an executive briefing at Villa Somalia, where The Duchess was hosted by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. The bilateral discussions focused heavily on integrating women into peacebuilding operations, fortifying community resilience, and establishing strict accountability metrics for gender-based violence. During the engagement, The Duchess explicitly endorsed the Federal Government of Somalia’s Women, Peace and Security National Action Plan, urging its continued tactical execution to improve conditions on the ground.
Operating alongside First Daughter Jihan Abdullahi Hassan at Uganda House within the presidential complex, The Duchess engaged directly with survivors of sexual violence perpetrated by the Al-Shabaab militant network. This specific engagement strongly reinforced the necessity of the broader UK-Somalia security and counter-terrorism architecture. The itinerary also included a field deployment to a village in the Lower Shabelle region to meet directly with the wives of active-duty Somali soldiers.
The UK’s logistical and financial support to Somali organizations operating in this critical sector reached nearly 130,000 women and girls between the 2024 and 2025 operational cycles. While inspecting a central Mogadishu hospital, The Duchess reviewed a UK-funded sexual and reproductive health program currently deployed across 39 facilities in the Banadir, Bay, Mudug, Lower Shabelle, and Galgaduud regions.
These operating environments are significantly affected by insecurity and displacement. The targeted UK funding actively strengthens clinical service delivery in these high-risk zones, providing hygiene and dignity commodities, psychosocial support, and vital medical care to victims of severe trauma, thereby reducing the stigma associated with seeking post-assault care.
Having completed her operational objectives in Mogadishu, The Duchess departed Somalia on February 24 to resume her regional diplomatic tour.
