Russia’s Foreign Minister on Friday said the government is ready to supply military equipment to support Somalia’s army in its war against terrorism, reported Africa News.
Sergey Lavrov‘s statement came after his meeting with Somalia’s Foreign Minister Abshir Omar Jama in Moscow.
During a news conference, Russia’s foreign minister reaffirmed Moscow’s readiness to fulfill the Somalian army’s material needs in its fight against extremists that are active on Somalian territory including al-Shabaab and al-Qaeda.
The Russian Foreign Minister also offered support to Somalia in state-building, strengthening the unity of the country and steps to stabilize the country’s internal situation.
Somalia has been marred with numerous attacks from al-Qaida’s East Africa affiliate group, al-Shabab, and recently the government embarked on what has been described as the most significant offensive against the al-Shabab extremist group in more than a decade. The jihadist group has held back the country’s recovery from decades of conflict.
Russia’s support offer further underscores Moscow’s growing interest in the African continent. Currently, mercenaries from the Russia-based Wagner group have their presence in the Central African Republic, Mali, Mozambique, and Libya.
The influence of Russia on African countries was evidenced when 17 of the 35 United Nations member countries abstained from a vote on a resolution condemning the invasion of Ukraine was African.
Although Somalia voted in favor of Ukraine’s resolution, it continues to work on diplomatic and political relations with Russia that turned sour in 1978 when Moscow supported Ethiopia in a war with Somalia.
Five successive failed rainy seasons in several parts of Somalia, Kenya, and Ethiopia have also led to the worst drought in four decades. The drought has forced over 1.7 million people to flee from their homes in search of food and water.
The United Nations (UN) estimates that about half of Somalia’s population will require humanitarian assistance this year, with 8.3 million affected by the drought.
