What Did Somalia, Rwanda, and Sudan Discuss?

By A. Yusuf

Changsha, China, June 12, 2025 — In a significant diplomatic engagement on the sidelines of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Ministerial Conference held in Changsha, the capital of Hunan Province in China, Somalia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, H.E. Cabdisalam Abdi Ali, met with his counterparts from Rwanda and Sudan to discuss key regional and international issues.

Strengthening Somalia–Rwanda Relations

During a formal bilateral meeting with the Rwandan Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Olivier Nduhungirehe, the two leaders exchanged views on enhancing the long-standing diplomatic ties between Somalia and Rwanda. Their conversation centered on deepening bilateral cooperation, with particular emphasis on expanding economic partnerships, trade development, and regional collaboration.

The ministers underscored the importance of mutual support and integration, viewing the relationship between their two nations as strategic and vital to the shared goals of peace, prosperity, and development in the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes region. They committed to promoting joint development projects and to pursuing more effective cooperation in education, infrastructure, and security.

Both parties recognized the rapidly shifting dynamics in Africa’s economic and political landscape and agreed that coordinated efforts between Somalia and Rwanda could help leverage new opportunities across the continent. They also expressed a unified stance on enhancing the African voice in international platforms and promoting inter-African solidarity in multilateral forums.

Dialogue with Sudan Amid Crisis

In a separate high-level meeting, Minister Cabdisalam Abdi Ali met with the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Sudan, H.E. Hussein Al-Haj. This meeting was held against the backdrop of Sudan’s ongoing political and security turmoil.

Discussions focused on the urgent need to restore peace and stability in Sudan, a country that continues to face internal conflict and humanitarian challenges. Minister Cabdisalam conveyed Somalia’s solidarity with the Sudanese people, emphasizing that Somalia, having experienced its own struggles, stands in full support of any genuine efforts aimed at national reconciliation and the cessation of violence in Sudan.

He also reiterated Somalia’s backing of regional and international diplomatic efforts to bring warring factions to the negotiating table and to pave the way for a lasting political solution that ensures the unity and sovereignty of Sudan.

Regional and Continental Vision

These meetings highlighted Somalia’s active engagement in continental diplomacy, showcasing its desire to play a constructive role in shaping Africa’s future through dialogue, cooperation, and shared development goals.

As Africa faces evolving security, environmental, and economic challenges, such diplomatic engagements between nations like Somalia, Rwanda, and Sudan underscore the importance of African-led solutions, regional partnerships, and collective action to achieve sustainable peace and development.

Somalia, Sudan, and Rwanda have a deep-rooted relationship, and their meeting further strengthens this longstanding connection.