Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud arrived in Brussels on Tuesday to participate in the Global Gateway Forum, scheduled to take place on October 25 and 26.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hosted more than 40 high-level government representatives from EU and partner countries and delegates from financial institutions, including the EIB and EBRD, the private sector, civil society, and international organizations.
Under the theme, ‘Stronger Together through Sustainable Investment,’ the Global Gateway Forum will showcase progress in implementing the Global Gateway strategy, the EU’s offer for quality, transparent investments in connectivity, health, education and research systems across the world.
President Mohamud will address the gathering on critical global issues, highlighting the urgent need for investments in infrastructure, the transition to green energy, and the importance of education.
During his visit, the President will hold several meetings with European leaders on the sidelines of the forum. According to reports, the President will advocate for funding for the ongoing military operations in the country. In September, the government directed an an appeal to the Security Council to consider a 90-day pause in the drawdown of the same 3,000 peacekeepers from Somalia.
Last month, Kenya, Ethiopia, Burundi, Djibouti, and Uganda—representing the five nations contributing troops to the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS)—also called on the UN Security Council to implement a 90-day pause in the peacekeepers’ drawdown.
In two separate letters, these five countries and the federal government said that a recent joint technical assessment illustrated a fragile situation, especially among populations within operating bases that are either being handed over to the Somali National Army or set to be closed.
Since August, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has been overseeing the ongoing offensive against al-Shabab in central Somalia.
