By Abdullahi Salad - Reporter
Somalia, 8 December 2025 — The Chinese Ambassador to Somalia, Wang Yu, today handed over a $1 million donation to the Chairman of the Somali Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA), Mahamud Moallim Abdulle, to support communities ravaged by the severe drought.
Abdulle, expressed gratitude to China for its continuous support, especially during these difficult times. "We truly thank our brothers and sisters in the Chinese Government, who have always stood by us. This is part of their ongoing support," he said.
The Chairman further emphasized that China's support is crucial in building emergency response warehouses and addressing disasters affecting the country.
"We are genuinely happy with this new support from China, which will play a significant role in enhancing our capacity to respond to emergencies," said the Chairman.
He also highlighted SoDMA’s achievements over the past three years, especially in capacity building and humanitarian response.
"In the three years we've been here, SoDMA has never lacked support, whether in humanitarian efforts or in capacity building. Just a month ago, 20 new employees were trained in China, who are now working on emergency response situations," he added.
Speaking at the event in Mogadishu, Wang Yu emphasized the long-standing friendship between China and Somalia, built on cooperation and international support, as highlighted by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Ambassador Wang reaffirmed China's commitment to standing by Somalia in overcoming its current challenges.
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"China, as a long-time friend of Somalia, is ready to play a role in solving the current problems," said Ambassador Wang.
"China’s support is based on the principles of sincerity and goodwill, as stated by President Xi Jinping. This aid aims to help the Somali people overcome the existing challenges," he added.
Ambassador Wang Yu also highlighted that China is ready to continue its strategic cooperation with Somalia, pointing out that the relationship between the two countries goes beyond immediate humanitarian assistance.
"China is not far from Somalia; we have a long-standing friendship, and we are now engaged in strategic cooperation," said Ambassador Wang.
"We are also making additional efforts to build a global community with a shared future for humanity."
The $1 million donation is part of China's ongoing efforts to assist Somalia overcome humanitarian challenges and advance its development agenda.
China has supported the Somali government in several areas, including military training on mine clearance and provision of education scholarships for Somali students.
In 2024, China pledged a $28 million donation to support Somalia's urgent needs following a meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Beijing during the China-Africa Cooperation Summit.
