Mogadishu, Somalia — President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud today formally received the letters of credence from the newly appointed European Union (EU) Ambassador to Somalia, Francesca Di Mauro, and the new Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Henk Jan Bakker, during a ceremony held at the Presidential Palace in Mogadishu.
In welcoming the new envoys, President Hassan Sheikh congratulated them on their appointments and assured them of Somalia’s readiness to work closely with both the EU and the Netherlands. He underscored the importance of constructive partnerships in advancing peace, development, and reconstruction across the country.
“The people and government of Somalia greatly value the role of international partners who stand with us in our path towards peacebuilding, state-building, and economic recovery,” the President said, according to a statement from Villa Somalia.
For their part, Ambassadors Di Mauro and Bakker expressed their gratitude to the President for the warm reception and emphasized their determination to strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation with Somalia. They pledged to support initiatives focused on security sector reform, humanitarian assistance, governance, and sustainable development.
The EU remains one of Somalia’s largest development partners, providing support in governance, resilience, and stabilization, while the Netherlands has historically been active in programs related to justice, rule of law, and humanitarian aid.
The presentation of credentials comes at a time when Somalia is navigating a complex political and security transition, including the ongoing drawdown of the African Union peacekeeping mission (ATMIS) and efforts to consolidate federal governance. The engagement of key European partners is expected to play a pivotal role in helping Somalia meet these challenges.
With their mandates now formally recognized, the two ambassadors will begin their diplomatic duties in Mogadishu, working with Somali institutions, civil society, and international organizations to deepen cooperation and build long-term stability.
