Azerbaijan-Somalia: Energy Diplomacy In Action – OpEd

The Evolution of Azerbaijan-Somalia Relations

Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Federal Republic of Somalia were officially established on March 22, 2004, in New York through the signing of a Joint Official Communiqué. The document was signed by the permanent representatives of both countries to the United Nations — Yashar Aliyev and Ahmed Abdi Hashi.

Throughout the subsequent two decades, these two states have cultivated stable and constructive relations founded on principles of mutual respect, humanitarian values, and shared solidarity. A defining moment in their bilateral cooperation emerged when Azerbaijan provided crucial humanitarian support to Somalia during a devastating crisis caused by severe drought and famine.

The year 2011 marked a significant chapter in this partnership when the Government of Azerbaijan allocated $100,000 USD in humanitarian aid to Somalia. This commitment was formalized on August 11 of the same year through a Standard Administrative Agreement signed between Azerbaijan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Agshin Mehdiyev, and Bisrat Aklilu, the UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office Coordinator. This agreement represented Azerbaijan’s direct response to urgent appeals from both the Somali government and international organizations seeking support for national and international efforts to combat hunger and alleviate human suffering in Somalia.

In accordance with the agreement, the full amount was promptly transferred to the humanitarian fund through the UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office. This marked Azerbaijan’s first participation in an Africa-focused humanitarian initiative under UN auspices, reflecting a new phase in Azerbaijan’s foreign policy engagement based on global responsibility and solidarity.

Building on this foundation, the Eurasian Regional Center of the Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum organized a charity campaign in Baku in 2012, with generous support from the Government of Azerbaijan. This initiative successfully ensured monthly food security for drought victims in Somalia while simultaneously promoting the concept of Islamic humanitarianism and expanding Azerbaijan’s role in addressing humanitarian challenges beyond its immediate geographical region.

The diplomatic relationship further evolved during a meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Contact Group on Somalia on November 3, 2019. During this gathering, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Elmar Mammadyarov, acknowledged that while some progress had been achieved, Somalia remained a fragile state requiring comprehensive assistance. He emphasized the critical importance of capacity-building initiatives, state and institutional development, poverty reduction measures, employment generation programs, national reconciliation efforts, and the ongoing fight against violent extremism and terrorism—challenges that continue to pose serious threats to both Somalia and the broader regional stability.

Minister Mammadyarov reaffirmed Azerbaijan’s unwavering commitment to supporting peace, stability, and state-building efforts in Somalia. He expressed Azerbaijan’s complete support for the Federal Government of Somalia while strongly condemning terrorist activities perpetrated by remnants of the extremist group Al-Shabaab. He urged these militants to abandon violence and actively participate in peacebuilding and reconciliation processes.

The evolving relationship between Azerbaijan and Somalia thus exemplifies constructive South-South cooperation, characterized by development assistance, humanitarian support, and the strengthening of international solidarity.

A New Chapter in Strategic Energy Cooperation Between Azerbaijan and Somalia 

The energy partnership between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Federal Republic of Somalia is gaining strategic momentum, laying the groundwork for long-term collaboration in the fields of renewable energy development and energy security. As Somalia prioritizes the energy sector within its broader sustainable development strategy, Azerbaijan emerges as a key partner capable of offering technical expertise, investment support, and policy guidance.

A pivotal milestone in this bilateral cooperation occurred during the meeting held on February 27, 2025, between Azerbaijan’s Minister of Energy, Parviz Shahbazov, and Somalia’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Dahir Shire Mohamed. According to official communications from the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan, their discussions focused extensively on the recent official visit of Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to Baku and the significant documents signed during this visit. The ministers particularly emphasized the importance of the Memorandum of Understanding on Green Energy Cooperation, signed by their respective energy ministries, which represents a fundamental step toward institutionalizing bilateral relations in renewable energy.

During these discussions, Minister Shahbazov provided a detailed overview of Azerbaijan’s current initiatives in both the oil and gas sector and renewable energy development. He highlighted Azerbaijan’s extensive experience in transporting energy resources to international markets through diversified routes while emphasizing the country’s ongoing energy sector reforms. The Azerbaijani delegation expressed confidence that the outcomes of the Somali President’s visit would catalyze deeper bilateral relations and advance shared objectives in energy transition.

The Somali delegation reciprocated by expressing genuine appreciation for Azerbaijan’s leadership position in the global energy arena. Minister Dahir Shire Mohamed characterized the visit as historically significant and instrumental in opening new avenues for cooperation. Their discussions encompassed proposals for training Somali students at Azerbaijani universities specializing in petroleum and energy studies, an initiative designed to foster human capital development and strengthen institutional connections between the two nations.

The negotiations culminated in the signing of an additional Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Oil and Gas Sector, which outlines clear intentions for knowledge exchange, joint participation in specialized events, and the organization of collaborative seminars and forums. This initiative underscores both countries’ shared commitment to diversifying and deepening energy cooperation across conventional and renewable energy domains.

Within this framework, the Baku Energy Forum has established itself as a vital platform for enhancing international cooperation. This prestigious event has provided Somalia with valuable opportunities to participate in multilateral discussions, explore joint investment prospects, and engage with global stakeholders in the energy sector. These efforts align seamlessly with broader international agendas promoting sustainable development and facilitating a just energy transition.

During the 30th anniversary edition of the Baku Energy Forum on June 3, 2025, Somalia’s Minister of Energy and Water Resources, Abdullahi Bidhan Warsame, emphasized the forum’s importance as a strategic venue for advancing both bilateral and multilateral cooperation. He reaffirmed Somalia’s dedication to national transformation programs focused on expanding electricity access, accelerating renewable energy deployment, and enhancing climate resilience.

Minister Warsame also outlined ambitious plans for constructing a large-scale solar power plant with a capacity of no less than 800 megawatts. He identified renewable energy development as a top national priority and called for increased investment in Somalia’s substantial green energy potential. In his remarks, he underscored that energy sector reform stands at the center of Somalia’s development strategy, particularly within the context of institutional capacity-building and post-conflict reconstruction efforts.

Geopolitical and International Significance

The Azerbaijan–Somalia energy partnership carries implications that transcend bilateral interests. It reflects a broader shift in the structure of global diplomacy, where South–South cooperation is gaining prominence as an alternative to traditional North–South dependency. This collaboration exemplifies how countries in the Global South can align based on mutual development goals, technical complementarities, and shared ambitions for sustainable growth.

For Azerbaijan, this partnership reinforces its strategic position as far more than a traditional hydrocarbon exporter, establishing the country as a knowledge provider and influential diplomatic actor in the evolving global energy landscape. This strategic outreach expands Baku’s influence into the African continent and bolsters its reputation as a proactive participant in international development and energy transition dialogues. In expanding its energy diplomacy beyond the borders of Europe and the South Caucasus, Azerbaijan signals its ambition to diversify both its export routes and its geopolitical outreach. Engagement with Somalia reflects Baku’s broader strategy of cultivating ties with the Global South, using energy cooperation as a platform for innovation, and international cooperation. The partnership also serves Azerbaijan’s long-term goal of positioning itself as a facilitator of global energy transition, promoting its technological capabilities and institutional experience in both fossil fuel logistics and renewable development.

For Somalia, energy cooperation with Azerbaijan holds genuinely transformative potential, directly addressing some of the country’s most pressing developmental challenges. With severely limited national grid coverage, dangerous overreliance on expensive diesel generators, and chronic infrastructural deficits, Somalia urgently needs sustainable energy solutions. Azerbaijan’s proven technical expertise in energy transportation, renewable integration, and institutional reform offers an invaluable framework for Somalia’s national energy transition. Joint initiatives—including the planned construction of the solar power plant, comprehensive capacity-building programs, and student exchange opportunities—pave the way for increased energy access, economic revitalization, and improved climate resilience. Furthermore, Somalia’s active participation in global energy forums alongside Azerbaijan significantly enhances its international visibility and integration into transnational development networks.

In sum, the Azerbaijan–Somalia energy alliance illustrates the transformative potential of South-South cooperation. It demonstrates how shared interests in sustainable development and energy diversification can serve as a foundation for long-term strategic partnerships. As both countries navigate their respective energy transitions, their collaboration represents a forward-looking model of geopolitical alignment, development synergy, and mutual benefit.