Somalia appoints first resident ambassador to Eritrea

Somalia’s new Ambassador to Eritrea Dr Omar Idris presenting his diplomatic credentials to President Isaias Afwerki in Asmara. (Photo: Courtesy)

By Foreign Reporter | 19 Nov 2023

The historical ties between Somalia and Eritrea date back to the Eritreans' struggle for liberation, where Somalia played a crucial role by being one of the first African countries to recognize the right to self-determination for the Eritrean people.

Dr Omar Idris, Somalia's new ambassador to Eritrea, presented his credentials to President Isaias Afwerki in Asmara on 17 November, marking the first resident ambassador to represent Somalia in Eritrea.

The historical ties between Somalia and Eritrea date back to the Eritreans' struggle for liberation, where Somalia played a crucial role by being one of the first African countries to recognize the right to self-determination for the Eritrean people.

Keep reading

Somalia provided moral, material, and diplomatic support to the Eritrean Peoples Liberation Front, with periods during which its leader Isaias spent time and operated from Mogadishu.

In recent times, relations between Somalia and Eritrea have thawed, particularly due to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's repeated statements that landlocked Ethiopia must secure its own seaport, causing unease between the neighbouring countries.

In his address, Omar, who was formerly Somalia's envoy to Qatar, hailed the relationship between the two countries while expressing his commitment to diligently represent and strengthen the enduring brotherly ties between Eritrea and Somalia.

In a brief statement shared on his X account, he stated, “It was an honour for me to be the first ambassador from Somalia to Eritrea in the history of the two brotherly countries.”