Somalia is steadily reestablishing its role on the regional and international stage, marked by a surge in high-level diplomatic activity, strategic bilateral agreements, and expanded representation across East and Southern Africa.

At the forefront of this diplomatic resurgence is Ambassador Ilyas Ali Hassan, Somalia’s Ambassador to the United Republic of Tanzania and Permanent Representative to the East African Community (EAC).

Since his appointment, Ambassador Ilyas has pursued an ambitious diplomatic strategy aimed at strengthening bilateral ties, enhancing regional cooperation, and projecting a forward-looking Somali foreign policy.

In addition to his post in Tanzania, he also serves as Somalia’s non-resident ambassador to Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Malawi, Mauritius, and the Union of the Comoros — significantly broadening Somalia’s diplomatic reach.

A symbolic milestone in this renewed engagement was the official reopening of the Somali Embassy in Dar es Salaam, which had been inactive for decades.

The newly refurbished chancery hosted Somalia’s first National Day celebration on embassy grounds since 1990. The event brought together a high-level Somali delegation led by Foreign Minister Abdisalan Abdi Ali, along with five other cabinet ministers, members of parliament, and senior officials.

Tanzanian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Thabit Kombo attended as Guest of Honour, underscoring the strength of bilateral relations.

Since December 2024, the Somali Embassy in Tanzania has facilitated nine landmark bilateral agreements, spanning diverse sectors: foreign affairs coordination, public health, tourism, defence training, internal security, education, language promotion, prisoner transfer, and civil aviation.

This new chapter in Somalia–Tanzania cooperation was launched on 19 December 2024, when Minister Kombo led a historic delegation to Mogadishu — the first Tanzanian Cabinet-level visit in over three decades.

Five foundational MoUs were signed during that visit. Six weeks later, then–Somali Foreign Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi paid an official visit to Dar es Salaam, where additional agreements were concluded.

Most recently, a strategic civil aviation agreement was signed, paving the way for direct flights between Dar es Salaam and Mogadishu.

“The agreements we’ve signed are not just diplomatic instruments,” Ambassador Ilyas said in an interview at the Somali chancery in Msasani. “They are tools to strengthen people-to-people relations — from business and tourism to education, regional integration, and cultural exchange.”

Implementation is already in motion. The aviation pact, renewed on 1 July 2025, will enable Air Tanzania to begin direct flights to Mogadishu before the end of the year, cutting travel time to under two hours and reducing costs for both traders and travelers.

Under the education agreement, Tanzanian universities will reserve spots for Somali students starting January 2026. Meanwhile, a Kiswahili language MoU is guiding curriculum development for pilot schools in Somalia — a key step in supporting Somalia’s integration into the EAC.

Ambassador Ilyas’s mandate extends well beyond Tanzania. Within six months of taking office, he has presented his credentials to President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, President Lazarus Chakwera of Malawi, and President Azali Assoumani of Comoros, reaffirming Somalia’s commitment to deepening cooperation in trade, agriculture, livestock, education, and security.

He has also engaged with the leadership of Mauritius, where maritime and Indian Ocean development topped the agenda. According to diplomatic sources, visits to the DRC and Mauritius are next on his regional itinerary.

As Somalia strengthens its engagement with the East African Community and neighboring countries, Ambassador Ilyas remains focused on four strategic pillars: peace and security, economic integration, people-to-people connectivity, and visa facilitation for Somali citizens.

“Diplomacy must translate into real benefits for our people,” he emphasized. “That is how we demonstrate that Somalia is back in business — as a sovereign, united, and forward-looking state under the leadership of President  Dr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.”

After years of limited outreach, Somalia’s diplomatic resurgence is unmistakable. With nine bilateral agreements signed with Tanzania, expanding diplomatic missions across African capitals, and a growing regional footprint — including Somalia’s current term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council — the country is reasserting itself as a voice for cooperation, connectivity, and shared prosperity across Africa and beyond.