The Prime Minister of the Federal Government of Somalia, Hamza Abdi Barre, on Tuesday received a high-level delegation from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) at his office in Mogadishu. The delegation was led by SDC Director-General Ambassador Patricia Danzi and included senior officials from Switzerland, including Ambassador Philipp Stalder, Head of Africa Affairs at the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, and Ambassador Mirko Giulietti, Switzerland’s envoy to Somalia, along with Martina Durrer, Head of Swiss International Cooperation in the Horn of Africa.
The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation between Somalia and Switzerland, with particular emphasis on good governance, institutional development, and humanitarian assistance. Prime Minister Xamsa thanked the Swiss delegation for Switzerland’s continued support, highlighting the critical role the country has played in building Somali institutions and mitigating the impacts of climate change, which have recently intensified the drought and humanitarian challenges in the country.
“We highly value Switzerland’s steadfast support in improving governance structures, strengthening public institutions, and providing life-saving humanitarian aid to Somali communities affected by the recurrent drought,” said Prime Minister Hamza.
The Swiss delegation, in turn, commended the Federal Government of Somalia for its efforts to improve governance, institutional capacity, and public service delivery. They reaffirmed Switzerland’s commitment to expanding development programs, including initiatives aimed at enhancing social services, infrastructure, and disaster resilience across Somalia.
During the meeting, both sides discussed strategies to ensure that ongoing and future programs are aligned with Somalia’s national priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals. Special attention was given to supporting local authorities in service delivery, promoting transparency and accountability, and addressing the urgent humanitarian needs of populations affected by drought and climate-related challenges.
The Prime Minister and the Swiss delegation also agreed on continued engagement and monitoring of ongoing projects to ensure effective implementation and maximum impact for Somali communities.
This engagement marks another step in Somalia’s efforts to deepen international cooperation and mobilize technical and financial support for governance, institutional development, and humanitarian response, reinforcing the country’s resilience in the face of natural and socio-economic challenges.