FOCUS ON
SOMALIA
OPENING OF THE BRITISH embassy
British Foreign Secretary William Hague visited the Somali capital Mogadishu on Thursday 25 April to officially mark the opening of the newly built British Embassy. Hague was joined by Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud for the flag raising ceremony at the new British diplomatic mission, 20 years after it’s predecessor was closed down and evacuated in 1991 as Somalia descended into over two decades of civil war and conflict, but with an improving security situation in the Horn of Africa country, the United Kingdom has become the first Western country to reestablish a permanent diplomatic presence in Somalia. © AU-UN IST PHOTOS / STUART PRICE
ABOVE: British Foreign Secretary William Hague is directed by a Somali government official as he arrives at Aden Abdulle International Airport in the Somali capital Mogadishu. RIGHT, TOP to BOTTOM: Hague (centre) walks with African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) Force Commander Lt. Gen Andrew Gutti (left) inside the AU mission’s headquarters. Hague shakes hands with Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud at the opening of the newly built British Embassy. Hague (2nd right) looks on as the British flag is raised.
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LEFT: British Foreign Secretary William Hague stands with Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud at the opening. BOTTOM, LEFT to RIGHT: Hague meets with Somali Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon inside the headquarters of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). The British flag is raised.
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Š AU-UN IST PHOTOS / STUART PRICE