The 78-year-old speaker, known for his hardline nationalist stance, has been absent from the public eye in recent months.

However, on Tuesday, the Somali Senate released a brief statement and photographs showing Abdullahi meeting with Vyacheslav Volodin, Speaker of the State Duma—the lower house of Russia’s Federal Assembly.

According to the Senate’s statement, the two parliamentary leaders discussed strengthening bilateral ties between Somalia and Russia, particularly in legislative cooperation and representation.

Both sides agreed to form a Somalia–Russia friendship committee aimed at promoting long-term parliamentary and governmental cooperation, the statement said.

“They emphasized the importance of exchanging experiences and best practices in legislation and public representation,” the statement read. “The Speaker expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome and noted that enhanced cooperation would further strengthen the relationship between the two countries.”

Russian Footprint Expanding in the region

Abdullahi’s visit comes amid a noticeable uptick in Russian diplomatic activity in Somalia and the wider Horn of Africa region.

While the autonomous regions of Puntland and Jubaland have recently severed ties with Mogadishu, and Somaliland continues to operate independently, Moscow has stepped up its efforts to gain influence—particularly in southern Somalia’s troubled part.

Russia had earlier attempted to court Somaliland, eyeing the strategic Berbera port along the Red Sea, but Hargeisa rebuffed those overtures in favor of a potential U.S. partnership.

In contrast, Somalia’s federal government has welcomed Russian delegations.

In April 2025, Mikhail Bogdanov, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister and Special Presidential Representative for the Middle East and Africa, visited Mogadishu and met with senior Somali officials, including President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

The Somali Ministry of Foreign Affairs later confirmed that Foreign Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi hosted a luncheon in honor of the Russian delegation, although details of the meetings remain undisclosed.

Earlier this year, in February, the Russian state news agency Sputnik launched its first African editorial center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Analysts view this move as part of Moscow’s effort to expand its information and influence operations in Africa, amplifying pro-Russian narratives in the region amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Who is Vyacheslav Volodin?

The man hosting Speaker Abdullahi in Moscow, Vyacheslav Volodin, is more than just a parliamentary leader.

He is a key figure within Russia’s political elite, closely aligned with President Vladimir Putin and often categorized among the “siloviki”—a term used for officials from Russia’s security and intelligence services who now dominate political power.

A former Deputy Prime Minister and former Head of the Government Executive Office, Volodin is a senior member of the ruling United Russia party. He is widely known for his unwavering support for Putin and once famously declared: “If there is Putin, there is Russia. If there is no Putin, there is no Russia.”

Volodin has been sanctioned by the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, and other Western governments for his role in backing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and supporting repressive domestic legislation.

Also present at the Tuesday meeting was Somalia’s Ambassador to Moscow, Mohamed Abukar Subeyr, a former employee at the Somali Prime Minister’s Office.

According to parliamentary sources and insiders at the Somali embassy, Subeyr played a key role in facilitating the meeting.

He is reportedly facing financial and personal challenges, and has been linked to dealings with Russian state security. On one occasion, he was even reported to have met with representatives of the Wagner Group.

The visit by Somalia’s upper house speaker to Moscow marks a potential pivot in Somalia’s foreign alignment, as Russia seeks to fill political vacuums and expand its influence across Africa.

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While the details of the discussions remain undisclosed, Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Foreign Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi hosted a luncheon in honor of the Russian delegation.

Sources at Villa Somalia told our reporter that Bogdanov personally delivered an invitation from President Vladimir Putin to President Mohamud to attend the upcoming Russia-Arab League summit later this year.

Bogdanov, a veteran diplomat with decades of experience across the Middle East and Africa, is regarded as one of President Putin’s most trusted envoys and has been honored with a presidential medal for his service.

Russia’s diplomatic push in Somalia comes as Moscow seeks to forge new alliances amid its ongoing war in Ukraine, now entering its third year. Although Somalia initially condemned Russia’s invasion, Mogadishu has recently softened its stance, with Somali officials making quiet visits to Moscow.

Amidst the African Union’s funding challenges for its operations in #Somalia and the Somali government’s ongoing struggle against the al-Shabaab terror group, there has been a notable increase in #Russian and #Iranian diplomatic activity in #Mogadishu.

On Sunday, April 27th,… pic.twitter.com/BhPis4HLYD

— Kaab TV (@KaabTV) April 28, 2025

The shift in Somalia’s diplomatic posture occurs at a time when the country faces serious internal challenges, including the rapid advance of militant groups toward Mogadishu.

Meanwhile, uncertainty looms over the future of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), as the United States — the mission’s largest financial backer — hesitates to commit further funding.

Deputy Foreign Minister Isaac Mursal stated that Somalia is eager to deepen cooperation with Russia in key sectors such as energy, infrastructure, and trade.

Russia’s outreach to Somalia is part of its broader effort to expand its influence in strategically important parts of Africa.

At the same time, Iran has reportedly been engaging Somali federal officials through Chinese intermediaries, according to diplomatic sources.

These contacts have remained largely secret, especially amid heightened tensions following U.S. airstrikes against the Iran-backed Houthi militia in Yemen.

Intelligence reports suggest that the Houthis have been using Mogadishu’s seaport to smuggle illicit arms to various Somali militia groups and have developed ties with the al-Shabaab militant group.

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The move was confirmed by Somali Foreign Minister Abshir Omar Huruse, who engaged with Russian authorities during his visit to Moscow in May.

The purpose of President Mohamud’s attendance at the summit aligns with Somalia’s need to address its frustration in acquiring weapons and ammunition to bolster the government’s fight against the militant group, Al-Shabab.

In May, Somali diplomats revealed that Russia had extended support to aid Somalia’s armed forces in their ongoing battle against the terrorist organization. Speculations have also surfaced about Russia potentially deploying Wagner mercenaries to train Somali forces, though Minister Huruse refrained from providing in-depth details about his discussions with Russian officials.

With President Mohamud at the helm, a government delegation, including Foreign Minister Huruse, senior Villa Somalia officials, and state media representatives, will embark on a mission to enhance media coverage of the Summit, ensuring that the Somali audience is well-informed about the Summit developments including potential propaganda against the west.

Quoted by Russia state news agency TASS, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov emphasized the importance of gradually lifting the arms embargo on Somalia saying that “they have already become an obstacle to the Somali government’s efforts to stabilize the situation.”

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed gratitude for Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s decision to personally attend the event.

However, as this diplomatic push comes amid Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine, which has raised concerns about potential security implications in Europe, Mr. Lavrov continued to give his perspective against Western powers, explaining that the majority of developing nations comprehend the main factors driving the Ukraine crisis.

“We share our assessment of the situation, and I believe the vast majority of developing countries understand the primary causes of this crisis, which are rooted in the ambitions of the United States and its allies, by way of enlarging NATO in defiance of all previous guarantees, to recklessly cement their dominance not only in Europe but also in other regions,” he added.

Somalia is grappling with multiple hurdles, including political turmoil, governance challenges, and clan rivalries. The humanitarian situation is equally distressing, with a staggering 8.25 million people (50% of the population) requiring urgent humanitarian assistance, 6.6 million facing acute food insecurity, and 1.8 million children at risk of acute malnutrition through 2023.

Adding to the uncertainty, Russia’s recent withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Deal has disrupted Ukrainian agricultural exports to East African countries like Somalia, which have heavily relied on Ukrainian grain for sustenance, especially amidst the effects of global climate change.

Compounding the difficulties, Finland, a key humanitarian supporter of Somalia, declared its decision not to provide development aid to governments and countries supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine, introducing further ambiguity for Mogadishu.

The Finland Foreign Ministry has committed to providing EUR 54 million for bilateral cooperation in Somalia, with a specific focus on state-building efforts and initiatives related to women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights from 2021 to 2024.

Additionally, Finland contributed EUR 6.6 million for projects related to Somalia Multi-Partner Fund (MPF) via the World Bank as well as projects intended to improving healthcare and education from 2021–2022.

As Somalia braces itself for the Russia-Africa Summit and navigates these complex challenges, the stakes are high, and the path forward remains unclear. The nation’s leaders must navigate a delicate balance amidst the evolving geopolitical landscape to secure much-needed support and assistance for the country’s stabilization and development.

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