Cuba recently sent its first ambassador to Somalia in 46 years, renewing ties between the two nations. Juan Manuel Rodriguez Vázquez, who is the resident ambassador to Kenya, presented his credentials to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on April 4, 2023. This historic move comes after diplomatic ties between our two countries were broken in 1977 when Cuba supported Ethiopia’s former Derg regime leader Mengistu Haile Mariam in the Ogaden War.
Cuba and Somalia had established relations in 1972 when they vouched for policies of the ‘Eastern bloc’ during the Cold War era, especially with the former Soviet Union which encouraged both to pursue socialist ideals. At the time, due to the good relations between our two countries, Cuban officials provided training to Somali civilian students and military cadets in the Caribbean Island, while skilled Cubans sent to our country offered health services and trained ‘Gulfweed’ (revolutionary guards). However, the diplomatic ties were severed in 1977 after Havana sided with Ethiopia’s former Derg regime leader Mengistu Haile Mariam in the Ogaden War. Somalia shifted from Soviet-leaning policies to the US side as a result.
As such, the recent appointment of Vázquez as a non-resident ambassador to Somalia is a positive step towards restoring diplomatic relations between our two nations, despite the rocky history between us.
On Monday, April 3, Vázquez was received by Foreign Affairs Minister Abshir Omar Jama before presenting his credentials to President Mohamud. Later, Jama told the media that the message conveyed by Vázquez was that Somalia and Cuba were resuming diplomatic relations based on cooperation and mutual respect.
Meanwhile, President Mohamud also received ambassadors from Canada and Djibouti on April 4, the same day as Cuba. Canadian Ambassador Christopher Thornley and Djibouti’s Ambassador Mohamed-Rachid Ibrahim Youssef presented their credentials, indicating a growing interest among foreign countries to engage with the country and support our efforts toward peace and stability.
The flow of diplomats to Mogadishu and their keenness to work with the Federal Government of Somalia is in line with our policies of creating the country’s peace with the world.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud
