President Ilham Aliyev received the credentials of the newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Somalia to Azerbaijan, Abdinur Dahir Fidou, on April 14.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, the ambassador presented his credentials to the head of state, followed by a formal discussion regarding the future of diplomatic relations between the two nations. During the meeting, Ambassador Fidou conveyed the greetings of Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to President Ilham Aliyev. Expressing his gratitude, the Azerbaijani leader asked the diplomat to reciprocate his greetings to the Somali President.
President Ilham Aliyev recalled the official visit of the Somali President to Azerbaijan last year, noting that it opened a new chapter in bilateral relations. He emphasized that productive discussions were held during that visit and several documents were signed to expand cooperation. While highlighting the strong political ties, the President stressed the importance of further broadening economic cooperation between Baku and Mogadishu. The head of state also noted that the implementation of Azerbaijan's "ASAN service" model in Somalia is currently underway, following agreements reached during the previous high-level visit.
The meeting also touched upon historical ties in education, noting that many Somali students studied in Azerbaijan during the Soviet period. This tradition continues today, with Somali students currently receiving education in the country under the Heydar Aliyev scholarship program. Azerbaijan has increasingly focused on strengthening its ties with African nations through the Non-Aligned Movement and other international platforms, providing humanitarian aid and technical expertise to support development across the continent.
