BAIDOA, Somalia – The European Union’s Ambassador to Somalia, Francesca Di Mauro, has held talks with South West State President Abdiasis Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen in Baidoa, as the bloc seeks to reaffirm its role in supporting security and development across the region.
The meeting, held on Monday at the presidential palace, covered a wide range of issues including the security situation, humanitarian needs, and ongoing EU-backed reconstruction efforts.
A statement from the South West State administration said both sides agreed to “strengthen cooperation” and fast-track development initiatives already under way in the state.
South West State, one of Somalia’s most populous and strategically important regions, has been heavily affected by conflict, displacement and cyclical drought, making it a major focus of international support efforts.
Speaking at a press conference after the talks, Ambassador Di Mauro said her visit — her first to Somalia’s federal member states since taking office — aimed to assess conditions on the ground and engage directly with regional authorities.
She described EU-funded projects in South West State as “beautiful and strong”, highlighting programmes in humanitarian relief, infrastructure rehabilitation and governance support.
She also noted that discussions touched on Somalia’s political trajectory and the preparations for the country’s upcoming elections, which international partners have described as a critical test for stability.
In a separate message on social media, the EU envoy said she had “fruitful interactions” with President Laftagareen and the regional parliament speaker, Ali Faqi.
She later toured several EU-supported initiatives offering long-term solutions for internally displaced people and promoting entrepreneurship for vulnerable communities. “The EU is a solid partner of South West State and all the people of Somalia,” she added.
