Somalia–Spain relations

Somalia–Spain relations are the bilateral and diplomatic relations between these two countries. Somalia has no embassy in Spain, nor Spain in Somalia, but the Spanish embassy in Nairobi is accredited to Somalia.[1]

Somalia-Spain relations

Somalia	Spain

Diplomatic relations

Spain has formally accredited an Ambassador to Somalia, residing in Nairobi. In the spring of 2011 the most severe drought period of the last 60 years in the Horn of Africa began. This situation worsened significantly in areas controlled by Al Shabaab. In August 2011, the UN declared a famine situation in 6 districts of Somalia, finding that 3.7 million people were at risk and 250,000 could die if immediate food aid was not provided.[2]

Spain was active and supportive in the humanitarian aspects of the crisis, becoming the fifth humanitarian contributor to Somalia in 2010 and 2011, through contributions to the United Nations system. The Spanish contribution to this crisis amounted to €25 million in 2011. Spain has also been active in the security sector for Somalia, being a leading country in the EUTM training mission for Somali military and with a very significant participation (second or third contributing country, according to the moment) to the EUCAP Néstor Mission and the ATALANTA operation against piracy in waters near Somalia, with the constant presence of two ships and a maritime patrol aircraft. It is also worth mentioning the visits to Mogadishu of the Minister of Defense, Mr. Morenés, in May 2015 and January 2016.[2]

Economic relations

There are no Spanish trade or investment statistics in Somalia. Some Spanish fishing companies have continued to fish in international waters near Somalia. The tuna fishery is especially profitable in this area, so, predictably, the Spanish tuna fleet will once again work in this fishing ground when the necessary legal and maritime safety conditions exist.[3]

Cooperations

At the time of writing this report, cooperation projects that can be financed from the funds agreed in the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Spain and Somalia in September 2010 are being evaluated.[4]

Official visits

The Secretary of State for International Cooperation visited Mogadishu in August 2011 to learn directly about the operations of the World Food Program in that city and held a working meeting with government representatives. TFG President Sheik Sharif visited Madrid in September 2010 to participate in the International Contact Group (ICG) meetings and the former Foreign Minister, Mr. Beileh, visited Madrid in July 2014. The Minister of Defense, Mr Morenés, visited Mogadishu in May 2015 and in January 2016.[5]

References

1. Ficha de Somalia Office of Diplomatic Information. Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. Section: Representation Data.
2. Ficha de Somalia Office of Diplomatic Information. Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. Section: Diplomatic relations.
3. Ficha de Somalia Office of Diplomatic Information. Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. Section: Economic relations.
4. Ficha de Somalia Office of Diplomatic Information. Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. Section: Cooperation.
5. Ficha de Somalia Office of Diplomatic Information. Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. Section: Relationship of Visits in both directions.