Hiiraan Online
Thursday, February 11, 2016
MOGADISHU (HOL) – Iraqi’s vice president Iyad Allawi arrived in Mogadishu Wednesday for talks on security cooperation amid worsening militants’ attacks in the two countries.
Upon his arrival, Mr. Allawi with Somali Ambassador to Iraq Ms. Khadija Al Makhzumi held talks with his Somalia counterpart Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke who received him at the Mogadishu airport, with the two men emphasized ‘security cooperation’ to fight militant groups fighting the two countries’ governments.
During their meetings, Mr. Sharmarke called for the Iraqi government to share its counter-terror expertise with Somali government to fight the Al-Qaeda liked Al-Shabab group which continues deadly guerrilla attacks across the country.
Mr. Allawi on his part pledged ‘unreserved’ Iraqi support to help the horn of Africa nation to stand on its feet after decades of conflict.
His visit comes after Somalia has reopened its Baghdad embassy late last year following years of war which shattered Somalia's diplomatic and economic relations with other countries.
Somalia which is recovering from decades of war has been trying to make a diplomatic come back across the world for the past two years and restored normal diplomatic relations with numerous countries.
Many countries including the US severed diplomatic relations with Somalia after a civil war broke out in 1991 that saw warlords fighting for the control of the country.