President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s Address at the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit
Your Excellencies, Fellow Heads of State and Government, H.E. Cai Qi, Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China, Distinguished Guests,
Introduction
It is a great honor and privilege to be here in the beautiful capital of the People’s Republic of China, Beijing, to participate in the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). I congratulate the government and people of China for organizing this successful gathering of international friends. I also want to express my government’s gratitude for the warm welcome and hospitality extended to my delegation and me during this visit. Thank you.
The theme of the summit, “Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future,” is truly timely. It builds on our existing historical cooperation and friendship while giving rise to many new possibilities for collaboration and joint prosperity that benefit both China and Africa.
In Somalia, China is a good friend and historic partner with whom we seek to strengthen our relations in all areas of mutual benefit, in accordance with the FOCAC framework. We strongly welcome that Somali-China cooperation is, and will continue to be, based on the strong principles of sincerity, real results, friendship, and good faith, as is the case throughout Africa. This is the only way to realize the common objectives of win-win sustainable development and prosperity for both sides.
Security Successes in Somalia and Peacebuilding Challenges in Africa
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Jointly building a shared future of lasting peace and universal security as a solid support for modernization is fundamental if Africa is to achieve its full potential. Today, the majority of conflicts are in Africa, and we must redouble our efforts to silence the guns and build the pillars that will sustain peace in the long term.
In Somalia, we are bravely and successfully fighting the last remaining pockets of international terrorism. Al-Shabaab, Al-Qaeda’s most deadly and morally bankrupt affiliate on the African continent, is being heavily defeated by the Somali National Army, with the support of our people and the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).
We are grateful to all the African troop- and police-contributing countries to ATMIS, and, as is clear, our joint efforts and sacrifices are delivering stability not just to Somalia but also to the Horn of Africa, the African continent, and the rest of the world.
However, the result, the MoU signed by Ethiopia with the regional administration in Somalia is a new threat to the efforts of the region, the continent and the world at large.
To date, our efforts against international terrorism have resulted in the liberation of over 80 towns, cities, and villages, as well as the capture or killing of senior terrorist leaders. The defection of many radicalized fighters, who are now in the process of being de-radicalized, is another success. Additionally, we are rebuilding liberated areas by providing basic public services, including education, healthcare, and law enforcement.
Our policy to combat international terrorism and Al-Shabaab continues to succeed because it is holistic and long-term. We are focused on delivering strategic military defeats, liberating remaining Al-Shabaab-held areas, confronting the group’s misguided and un-Islamic propaganda, and financially starving them of illicit funds forcibly collected from Somali victims.
These efforts will continue until Al-Shabaab is completely defeated and the Somali people can peacefully rebuild their lives, communities, and nation with the hope of uninterrupted stability, free from violent terrorists and criminals. Indeed, we are truly committed to delivering a better future for our resilient people.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Building a shared future of lasting peace and universal security requires that we do more than just fight on the battlefield. While this is important, we also need to focus on building and sustaining peace.
This requires investments in the building blocks that enhance community cohesion and citizens’ engagement with the state, especially in newly liberated areas. These include education, healthcare, infrastructure, and job creation.
In this interconnected age, security is not confined to borders, and all existing evidence shows that it will be impossible to achieve lasting peace and universal security while there is uneven development and opportunity across the world.
Accordingly, through the FOCAC process, we hope Africa-China relations can refocus and redouble efforts to build and maintain peace in Africa as a development priority. Our cooperation and policies must be proactive to achieve this shared empowering objective.
One China Policy
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Somalia is firmly committed to the One China Policy, and we are grateful to the government of China for its unwavering commitment to supporting Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, in line with international law and the African Union and United Nations charters. This, coupled with mutual respect, common purpose, and joint endeavor, serves as the anchor for peace and stability in the Horn of Africa, the African continent, and the wider world.
Going forward, Somalia is proud to join China at the UN Security Council in January 2025 as a non-permanent member for two years. Through this high-level global forum, we seek to cooperate with all permanent Security Council members, including China, to advance global peace and security for the betterment of humanity.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Somalia’s experience is that instability anywhere is a danger everywhere. As a community of nations, we must see the challenge of terrorism and insecurity, as well as its drivers, as a core mission to challenge and overcome jointly.
Without this, there cannot be any hope of building a shared future of lasting peace and universal security as a solid support for modernization and sustainable development.
Overall, universal peace and security are urgent global public good that will transform lives everywhere. Let us achieve this together.
Thank you all.
