NEW DELHI: India and Somalia on Saturday discussed strengthening defence cooperation, with a focus on maritime security, counter-terrorism and capacity building, during a meeting between MEA Secretary Sripriya Ranganathan and Somali defence minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi.Ranganathan, Secretary (Consular, Passport, Visa and Overseas Indian Affairs), also exchanged views with Fiqi on the regional security situation.MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal shared details of the meeting in a post on X, saying both sides discussed ways to strengthen bilateral defence ties.First high-level Indian visit in recent yearsRanganathan arrived in Mogadishu on Saturday for official engagements with Somalia’s leadership, marking the first high-level bilateral visit from India to the country in recent years.The High Commission of India in Nairobi, which is concurrently accredited to Somalia, said the visit would build on the “longstanding and friendly ties between the two countries”.During her stay, Ranganathan is scheduled to meet senior Somali officials to review bilateral cooperation and explore new areas of partnership in diplomatic, consular and developmental affairs.
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India-Somalia tiesIndia and Somalia share centuries-old maritime and commercial links. Formal diplomatic relations were established in 1960, following Somalia’s independence.India closed its resident mission in Mogadishu in 1991 after the outbreak of civil war but has continued to engage with Somalia through development assistance, capacity-building programmes and maritime security cooperation.Separately, the High Commission of India in Nairobi on Thursday launched an oral history podcast series, ‘The Bharat Connection: Living Memories, Shared History’, to document the journeys of prominent members of the Indian-origin community in Kenya.Indian High Commissioner to Kenya Adarsh Swaika said the initiative would capture stories that reflect the shared history and longstanding ties between the two countries.
