The Russian Federation has granted debt relief for Somalia, subsequently expunging 684 million dollars owed to Russia by the Somali government, officials from the Horn of Africa nation say.
Russia has become the first global power to clear debt owed to them by Somalia. The vast majority of this debt is said to have been accumulated during the socialist government of Somalia’s late president Mohamed Siad Barre, who had close ties with Moscow from 1969-1977.
This latest development comes a few weeks after Somalia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs paid an unexpected trip to Moscow were he met with Kremlin officials, including his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov.
Russia and Somalia have not had official diplomatic relations in 45 years after the former Soviet Union sided with Ethiopia over Somalia during the 1977 Ogaden war.
Daljir Media Service Desk
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