Hiiraan Online
Friday October 30, 2015
Somalia's new envoy to Russia, Mr. Abdullahi Mohamud Warsame aka Adde Duqow
MOGADISHU (HOL) – Somalia’s government has appointed a new ambassador to Russia, the first diplomat the horn of Africa nation sent to the former Soviet Union after more than two decades of war – sources said Thursday.
Abdullahi Mohamud Warsame aka Adde Duqow, the former Dean of technical and Commercial teachers College takes a position that remained vacant since 1991 when warlords overthrew Somalia’s central government which was a client state of the USSR In the early years of the Cold War.
The nature of Cold War alliances has later changed as the Soviet Union switched from supplying military aid to Somalia to supporting Ethiopia.
Studied in Russia, Mr. Warsame has also served as the UNDP national director for Somalia is seen as a canning diplomat with a formidable experience who may contribute to the relations and shared interests of the two former allies.
The new ambassador succeeds Mohamed Mohamoud Handule who served as Somali virtual representative to Russia since 2007.
Somalia which is recovering from decades of war has been trying to make a diplomatic come back across the world for the past two years as it restored normal diplomatic relations with numerous countries.
During the civil unrest in Somalia, Russia has provided scholarships to hundreds Somali students who were smuggled into Asian and European countries.
Russia has played a key role in building and equipping Somali army during 1970s, as many Somali military officers were trained in Russia.
Somali Prime Minister met Russian Foreign Minister on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Thursday October 1, 2015
Many countries including the US severed diplomatic relations with Somalia after a civil war broke out in 1991 that saw warlords fighting for the control of the country.
The new diplomatic exercise comes following the ouster of Islamist insurgents from the capital and surrounding regions, a development which allowed partner countries to start a diplomatic presence in the seaside capital, Mogadishu.