KINSHASA, DRC – Somalia’s Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Tanzania, and the East African Community, Ilyas Ali Hassan, has held a series of meetings in Kinshasa as part of Mogadishu’s efforts to expand its diplomatic and economic outreach across the region.
In talks with Congolese Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Peter Kazadi Shabani, Ambassador Hassan discussed ways to enhance cooperation between the two countries, with particular attention to the challenges faced by the Somali community living in the DRC. Both sides signalled a commitment to improving coordination on political and security issues.
The ambassador also met with Congo’s Energy Minister, Aimé Sakombi Molendo, where discussions centred on energy cooperation and investment opportunities that could benefit Somali citizens. Officials explored potential avenues for joint projects and broader economic engagement.
In a separate meeting with Rachel Pungu, head of the National Investment Promotion Agency (ANAPI), the two sides examined how to reduce barriers for Somali traders and investors operating in the DRC. Plans for a bilateral business forum were discussed, aimed at creating a platform to deepen commercial ties between Mogadishu and Kinshasa.
The series of engagements comes as Somalia seeks to consolidate its regional partnerships and open new economic channels amid shifting dynamics within the Horn of Africa and the wider Great Lakes region.
