Representatives from the United States, Qatar, Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom gathered in Washington, D.C. on October 1 for the seventh meeting of the Somalia Quint. Officials from the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) also attended.
The meeting underscored support for Somalia's sovereignty and territorial integrity while emphasizing dialogue to ease regional tensions. Turkish-sponsored mediation efforts were highlighted as a means to achieve this goal. The discussions focused on shared economic and security objectives, especially concerning threats from terrorist groups in the Horn of Africa.
The Quint expressed backing for FGS initiatives aimed at building capable and accountable security forces. Steps to enhance international training coordination were agreed upon to improve immediate operations and assist in developing long-term training capabilities for Somali forces.
A significant point of discussion was finalizing plans for a new African Union Stabilization and Support Mission in Somalia, following the conclusion of the current African Union Transition Mission. Ensuring comprehensive stakeholder input into planning was deemed crucial for setting realistic goals with a clear exit strategy aligned with Somalia’s capacity-building efforts. Funding options for this mission remain a priority.
Stabilization planning was reaffirmed as essential for sustainable military progress, with emphasis on integrating governance and humanitarian considerations into military strategies.
The Quint partners plan to meet again in Mogadishu for their eighth session.
