Somalia, Qatar sign MoU for legal cooperation

Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud during the Italy-Africa Summit in Rome on January 29, 2024. (Photo: Villa Somalia)

By Hanifa Adan
Monday, February 26, 2024

The MoU aims to foster the exchange of experiences, expertise and successful practices in the fields of legal and judicial training, legal work, and real estate registration.

Somalia and Qatar have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for increased cooperation in the legal field via the transfer of knowledge through training and other initiatives.

The deal was signed Sunday by Ibrahim bin Ali bin Issa Al Hassan Al Mohannadi, the Qatari Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, and Hassan Moallin, Somalia's Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, who was visiting Qatar.

The Somali minister explained that the MoU aims to foster the exchange of experiences, expertise and successful practices in the fields of legal and judicial training, legal work, and real estate registration.

It will also encourage cooperation between the Centre for Legal and Judicial Studies and the Judicial Training Institute in Somalia, he said.

After the two leaders' meeting, the Somali delegation was briefed on the Qatari legal experience in the fields of real estate registration and attenuation, legal training and public service.

Hassan praised the Qatari legal experience and stressed that the visit opened broad horizons for legal cooperation.

Qatari diplomacy has been notably constructive and impactful in mediating between various factions in Somalia, as well as in initiatives aimed at restoring diplomatic ties with countries including Kenya.

The Somali minister's Doha trip followed one in January 2024 by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, which aimed to bolster bilateral relations.

President Hassan travelled to Doha after a trip to Egypt during which he met with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who assured support for his country amid the feud with Ethiopia over its controversial January 1 MoU with Somaliland.

The Somali leader appears to be engaging in shuttle diplomacy to mobilise support against the MoU.

He accuses Ethiopia of attempting to annex part of Somalia's territory through the sea access deal with the breakaway region of Somaliland.

Ethiopia is seeking naval and commercial access to ports along Somaliland's coast while Somaliland wants recognition as an independent state and could also get a stake in the national Ethiopian Airlines.