By Suleiman Sabdow
Mogadishu- President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, on Wednesday received the letters of credentials from the newly appointed Ambassador of the European Union to Somalia, Francesca Di Mauro, and the new Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Somalia, Henk Jan Bakker.
The official ceremony took place at the Presidential Palace popularly known as Villa Somalia in the capital Mogadishu.
Ambassador Di Mauro succeeds Tiina Intelmann, while Ambassador Bakker succeeds Maarten Brouwer.
During the meeting, President Mohamud congratulated the ambassadors on their appointments and welcomed them to Somalia, expressing his government’s readiness to work closely with both the European Union and the Kingdom of the Netherlands in advancing shared priorities.
He emphasized the importance of strengthening diplomatic ties, enhancing cooperation on peacebuilding, development, and reconstruction, and deepening mutual understanding between Somalia and its international partners.
In their remarks, both ambassadors conveyed their appreciation to the President for the warm reception and reaffirmed their commitment to furthering strong bilateral and multilateral relations.
They pledged to support Somalia’s ongoing efforts in promoting stability, economic development, and state-building initiatives.
The presentation of credentials marks the official start of their diplomatic missions in Somalia and reflects the continued engagement of the international community in supporting the country’s progress.
