Hiiraan Online

At this meeting the Spanish government representatives confirmed their continued commitment to assisting the Somali government in programmes they are already involved in such as the European Union Military Mission in Somalia (EUTM) which has so far trained 3,600 Somali soldiers in Uganda and Atalanta which is focused on deterring and combating piracy off the coast of Somalia.

The outcomes of yesterday’s meetings between the Somali Foreign Minister Abdirahman Beileh and his Spanish counterpart host, Mr. José Manuel García-Margallo, senior civil servants and the Director of the Spanish International Development agency was a positive one which concluded with the Spanish government’s interest in funding some priority development projects that are related specifically to creating employment and alternative livelihoods for young people as a means of deterring them from terrorism and other unproductive and violent activities. The Somali government’s Give Your Gun and Go to School programme attracted interest and support from the highest levels of the Spanish government. It was agreed that the Somali government is to formulate and submit a proposal to the Spanish development agency for consideration for funding towards this programme.

In an unprecedented move the Spanish government indicated that a senior member of their Ministry of Defence will be visiting Mogadishu this Thursday and be meeting with the Somali Minister for Defence to continue the discussions on extending their support and exploring security collaboration for the future.

The Somali Foreign Minister, Abdirahman Beileh maximised his visit to Spain’s capital, Madrid, by visiting the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, home to of one of the most successful football clubs in the world, Real Madrid. During his visit he was shown around by one of the Directors of the Club with responsibility for external relations and they discussed Real Madrid extending their work in organising youth clubs, funding sports and building stadiums both at home for disadvantaged communities and in developing nations, to Somalia. Mr. Beileh proposed an extension of his government’s Give Up Your Gun and Go to School Programme named Give Up Your Gun and be a Champion aimed at establishing youth clubs for sports, building stadiums and training young people in football and basketball as a means of providing them with an alternative livelihood and free leisure activities. The Real Madrid management have expressed great interest in this proposal and have invited the government of Somalia to submit a proposal.

“These are opportunities we must not only encourage and explore but take full advantage of for the future of our next generation especially if it is been delivered elsewhere around the world by such amazing people and groups like Real Madrid already,” said Abdirahman Beileh. “Approaching this famous club directly is an indication that this government is going to knock on every door where there is an opportunity to create alternative livelihoods and lives for our young people to deter them from wasting their precious lives on terrorism.”

In an exclusive interview with HOL, the Somali Foreign Minister, Abdirahman Beileh stated that he was welcomed most wonderfully by the Spanish government and he felt they genuinely wanted to increase their efforts in Somalia. He also thanked and congratulated the outgoing British Foreign Secretary William Hague who was today replaced by Phillip Hammond after resigning for his support of Somalia’s return to the international community.

“William Hague worked hard to support Somalia’s return to the international stage after over two decades of civil war and state collapse. I thank him for his enormous efforts and look forward to working with the new Foreign Secretary of an important international partner, Mr. Phillip Hammond,” said Mr. Beileh.

The Somali Foreign Minister and his delegation have now concluded their visit to Spain and will be returning to Mogadishu today.

HOL English News Desk