(28-03-23) Mogadishu – Ambassador Idd Bedel Mohamed, the former Alternate Ambassador of Somalia to the United Nations in New York, spoke at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs’ international conference on Monday as a key panel speaker. The conference brought together representatives from think tanks and policy centers in 30 Middle Eastern and African countries to discuss the prospects for expanding and enhancing the Abraham Accords and potential areas for Gulf-Africa-Israel partnerships in various fields.
Ambassador Mohamed expressed confidence in Somalia’s unified leadership, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud and Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, and their ability to galvanize agendas and pass legislation in both the parliament and the senate. He emphasized that he is “100 percent sure” that the country’s leadership welcomes the signing of the Abraham Accords, signaling that Somalia may be open to establishing diplomatic relations with the state of Israel.
Somalia has not had any diplomatic relations with Israel since gaining independence in 1960, making Mohamed’s statement particularly significant. His visit to Jerusalem and his declarations about the prospects of Somalia signing the agreement with Israel have caught the attention of Somali lawmakers.
Dr. Ali Faqi, a member of the Federal Parliament, expressed concerns about the transparency of Mohamed’s visit to Jerusalem on Twitter. Faqi questioned whether Mohamed went to Israel on a personal level or with the approval of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Prime Minister, or the President. Faqi emphasized that building relationships with foreign countries requires transparency.
Mohamed’s statements have sparked a debate about the transparency and accountability of Somalia’s foreign policy as the country considers the possibility of signing an agreement with Israel. While some welcome the prospect of enhanced regional stability and economic cooperation, others are calling for more transparency and openness in Somalia’s foreign policy decision-making process.
