Tuesday May 4, 2021
Mogadishu (HOL) - The freshly appointed Qatari special envoy arrived in Mogadishu on Monday, where he met with Somalia's Prime Minister and leading members of the opposition.
Dr. Mutlaq bin Majed Al-Qahtani, Qatar's Special Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Counterterrorism and Mediation in Conflict Resolution, met with PM Roble. They discussed bilateral relations and the worrying developments in Somalia, and how to best approach the reconciliation process.
The Special Envoy also met with former President Hassan Shiekh Mohamud and former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire.
In his whirlwind day of meetings, Qahtani met with regional leaders, including the Banadir Regional Administration, Galmudug and Southwest.
Al-Qahtani's arrival comes as the African Union prepares to appoint their own Special Envoy to address Somalia's political crisis.
The Qatari diplomat is an accomplished mediator and was recognized by the UN with the Best Negotiator Award in 2020 for his part in the US-Taliban peace agreement.
The Special Envoy made a pit-stop in Hargeisa en-route to Mogadishu, where he met with the Somaliland President Muse Bihi in Hargeisa on Sunday.
Qatari state media reports that Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, held a telephone conversation with President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo on Monday. The two leaders discussed Somalia's security and political issues.