MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia has on Tuesday welcomed Saudi Arabia’s announcement on lifting blockade of Qatar, as Gulf leaders gather for a summit that is expected to see the end of a three-year long embargo against Doha by its neighbors.
In a statement, the press office of Somalia’s president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo hailed Kuwait’s fruitful efforts to mediate talks on ending Saudi Arabia’s blockade of neighboring Qatar.
“Somalia’s federal government welcomes statement by Kuwait’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the progress made regarding mediation efforts between Saudi Arabia and Qatar,” reads statement issued by Somali president’s press office.
The government of Somali president Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, which had rejected proposal by several Gulf countries to cut ties with Qatar three years ago and has since been a key African ally for Doha, which now spends millions of dollars in the reelection of the incumbent leader.
Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim Al Thani was greeted by Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman on arrival in al-Ula, hours after Saudi Arabia reopened its borders to Qatar on Monday.
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut ties with Qatar three years ago after alleging it supported terrorists.
The tiny, gas-rich state denied the accusation and rejected a list of demands issued by its neighbors at the start of the crisis, which included downgrading diplomatic ties with Iran and shutting down the Doha-based Al Jazeera network.
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