Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 5 February, in New York, a Joint Communiqué was signed establishing diplomatic relations between Uzbekistan and Somalia, Dunyo news agency reported.

The document was signed on behalf of the governments of both countries by Uzbekistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ulugbek Lapasov, and his Somali counterpart, Abukar Dahir Osman. The parties confirmed their willingness to strengthen cooperation within international organizations, including the UN and its specialized agencies.

An agreement was reached to expand bilateral contacts with the aim of exploring promising areas for cooperation in the political, trade-economic, and cultural-humanitarian spheres. The signing of this document marked an important step in activating Uzbekistan's cooperation with African countries.

With this, the Federal Republic of Somalia became the 157th country with which Uzbekistan has established diplomatic relations.

It is worth noting that in 2024, Uzbekistan established diplomatic ties with 12 countries across Africa, America, and Europe.