Thursday April 6, 2023
Mogadishu (HOL) - During a ceremony in Mogadishu, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud accepted the diplomatic credentials of Christopher Thornley, Canada's newly appointed non-resident ambassador.
Diplomatic ties between Canada and Somalia were initially established in 1968 but were halted after the Somali Government's collapse in 1991. Following the formation of the Federal Government of Somalia in 2012, Canada reestablished diplomatic relations with Somalia in 2013 and is represented by its High Commission in Nairobi, Kenya.
Canada hosts one of the world's largest Somali diaspora communities. The majority arrived during the civil war in the early to mid-1990s. Official census data estimates the population at 63,000, but Somali-Canadian leaders contend the actual number is closer to 150,000. Numerous Somali-Canadians maintain strong connections to Somalia and have taken on senior roles in Somalia's federal and regional governments.
Canada and Somalia share modest trade relations, with two-way merchandise trade amounting to $3.7 million in 2021. That same year, Canada's principal exports to Somalia comprised vehicles and equipment, machinery, textile products, plastic and rubber products, and specialized instruments, totalling $3.3 million. Canada imported $423,000 worth of chemical products, vegetable products, vehicles and equipment, and machinery from Somalia in 2021.
Christopher Thornley was one of three ambassadors who presented their credentials to Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. Mohamud also welcomed the credentials of Ambassador Mohamed Ibrahim Yusuf from Djibouti and Ambassador Juan Manuel Rodriguez from Cuba.
President Mohamud stated that the renewal of relations with Cuba, after a 46-year suspension, and with other nations reflects his administration's vision for a "Somalia at peace with itself and the world."