Somalia has appointed its first-ever ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, marking a historic step in normalising relations and deepening ties between the two East African Community (EAC) member states.
Ambassador Ilyas Ali Hasan, a seasoned diplomat concurrently serving as Somalia’s envoy to Tanzania and five other nations, presented his letter of credence to the DRC’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, in Kinshasa on Monday.
“A key priority of my mission is to advocate for the growing Somali community in the DRC. We had productive discussions on enhancing consular support, including streamlining visa processes, residence permits, and business licensing to ensure our citizens can continue to invest and thrive here,” Ambassador Ilyas Ali Hasan tells TRT Afrika.
The appointment of the new envoy, initiated by a decree from Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, is part of a broader strategy to re-establish and strengthen Somalia’s diplomatic presence across the continent as it recovers from decades of conflict.
Wider diplomatic efforts
Ambassador Ilyas’s appointment to the DRC is a key part of a wider diplomatic move led by the seasoned envoy.
Based in Tanzania where he serves as the resident ambassador, Ilyas is also Somalia’s non-resident ambassador to a total of six countries.
This recent activation in Kinshasa follows similar moves to re-establish ties across the region; previously, he presented his credentials to Comoros, Rwanda, Mauritius and Malawian leadership.
The appointment comes as the Somali diaspora in the DRC continues to grow, with significant investments in key sectors such as logistics, energy, long-distance transport, mining, and hospitality.
The new Somali ambassador hopes bilateral ties between his country and the DRC will be enhanced following his assumption of the roles and discussions with the DRC foreign affairs minister.
“Our discussions have laid the groundwork for elevating our relationship to the highest levels. We are optimistic that we will see official exchange visits between our respective heads of state in the near future, which will further cement our strategic partnership,” he said.
‘Partnership for great nations’
“The foundation of our strong bilateral ties has been built by the Somali people who live, work, and invest in the DRC. My role is to formalise and build upon their contributions. We aim to elevate this relationship into a true ‘win-win’ partnership that benefits the people of both our great nations,” he added.
Acknowledging this, Ambassador Ilyas’s immediate agenda focuses on advocating for the Somali community.
During his multi-day visit to Kinshasa, he confirmed that Somalia is seeking enhanced visa assistance, streamlined residence permits, and flexible business licensing to support its citizens working and investing in the DRC.
During his visit, Ambassador Ilyas was warmly received at N’djili International Airport by DRC foreign ministry officials and members of the Somali diaspora.
As part of his mission, the Somali embassy announced it would provide mobile consular services, including passport and citizenship document processing, to Somali nationals in Kinshasa and Lubumbashi.
This diplomatic milestone enhances cooperation on multiple fronts. Both nations are members of the EAC, and their collaboration is set to extend to the global stage.
With Somalia currently serving on the UN Security Council through 2026 and the DRC elected to serve from 2026 to the end of 2027, the two countries will have overlapping terms on the UN’s highest body for maintaining international peace and security, providing a platform for aligned African voices.
