Somali presidential adviser: Azerbaijan serves as bridge between regions and civilisations

Azerbaijan is strengthening its position as a bridge between regions and civilisations while actively promoting dialogue, peace, and sustainable development, a Somali presidential adviser has said.

Speaking at the General Assembly of the Global South NGO Platform in Baku on May 14, Mohamed Osman Mohamud, adviser to the President of Somalia and founder and CEO of the Sadar Institute, praised Azerbaijan’s growing international role, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

“Today, Azerbaijan is strengthening its position not only as a bridge between regions, but also as a bridge between civilisations, while simultaneously taking important steps to promote dialogue, peace, and sustainable development,” he said.

According to him, the world today has more questions than answers, all of which require systematic reflection and thorough analysis. He noted that more than 2 billion people live in conditions of instability and conflict, while the consequences of climate change affect millions of people worldwide.

He also pointed to issues of food insecurity and the fact that by 2050, more than 70% of the global population will live in cities, emphasising the situation in Africa, where rapid urbanisation is leading to the growth of informal settlements and shortages of housing and sanitation.

The adviser added that climate shocks, droughts, floods, and conflicts continue to threaten peace and security across the continent. At the same time, Africa demonstrates significant potential for economic growth due to its young population and abundant resource base.

He stressed that the Global South NGO Platform plays a “historic role” in uniting communities, amplifying voices, and turning experience into global action, adding that civil society “must be at the centre of decision-making, not on its periphery.”

“Peace is the foundation of any development. Without peace there is no prosperity, without justice there is no stability, without cooperation there is no sustainable future,” he said.

He also highly praised Azerbaijan’s role in promoting dialogue, multilateralism, and global peacebuilding.