The event was opened by Nils Woermer, Director, Regional Programme Security Dialogue for East Africa. He noted that the dialogue was timely, happening exactly following both the Munich Security Conference and the African Union Summit. He highlighted that these international events provided broader perspectives on international security affairs and Africa's strategic goals, and thus, a dialogue specific to Somalia was crucial in order to align Somalia’s national goals with global and continental agendas.
The dialogue consisted of three distinct panels, each tackling a specific topic. The first panel was focused on Somalia's ongoing military offensive against al-Shabaab and explored both the progress being made, the significant obstacles that remain and what lies ahead for the new African Union Support Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). The second panel evaluated Somalia's democratisation process, particularly the ongoing efforts of the National Consultative Council (NCC) to conclude the Federal Constitution and the reforms in the electoral system. The third panel addressed the shifting U.S. foreign policy regarding the Horn of Africa. Panellists acknowledged that the U.S. has historically played a pivotal role in shaping the security dynamics of the Horn of Africa but expressed concern about the new “America first” approach.
The dialogue was attended by Ministers and Members of the Federal Government of Somalia, experts, researchers, and members of the civil society.
About this series
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