Russia believes it is essential to prevent external players from interfering in Somalia's upcoming general elections in order to preserve the republic's territorial integrity and unity. This was stated by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova at a briefing.
"We are closely monitoring developments in the Federal Republic of Somalia ahead of the general elections scheduled for 2026," the diplomat noted. "We proceed from the need to ensure that external players do not interfere in Somalia's internal political processes, with the aim of preserving its territorial integrity and unity."
According to Zakharova, any differences between the federal government and the leadership of certain Somali states should be resolved through mutually acceptable agreements. "We urge the parties to continue searching for such solutions with a view to establishing a stable model of Somalia’s federal structure," she added.
The diplomat also expressed concern over the continued activities of the terrorist group Al-Shabaab in Somalia. She described the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) as "one of the most important factors in containing unlawful activities in the country" and "a guarantee of steady progress toward strengthening statehood."
"Russia, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, intends to continue participating in coordinated international efforts to provide comprehensive assistance to Mogadishu," concluded the Russian Foreign Ministry representative.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry
Based on materials from TASS