Women’s rights advocate and senior Kenyan political figure Asha Kiwi has held talks with Somalia’s Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre in Mogadishu, with discussions focusing on women’s empowerment, economic inclusion and current political affairs.
Kiwi paid a courtesy call to the Office of the Prime Minister on Saturday, describing the meeting as fruitful.
The discussions explored ways to strengthen support for women and girls, particularly through initiatives aimed at improving livelihoods and expanding access to economic opportunities.
Kiwi said the meeting also addressed the need to confront negative gender stereotypes that continue to hinder women’s advancement and participation in social, economic and political affairs.
“We reaffirmed our shared responsibility to enhance livelihoods support for women and girls, promote the mitigation and elimination of negative gender stereotypes that often hinder women’s progress, and strengthen technical skills to unlock infinite opportunities,” she said.
She noted that investing in technical skills and creating inclusive economic opportunities would be critical in enabling women and girls to contribute more meaningfully to Somalia’s development.
According to a media dispatch from the Office of the Prime Minister, the engagement also touched on current political issues, providing an opportunity for the two leaders to exchange views on developments in Somalia and broader national priorities.
Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre said the meeting underscored the growing attention to women’s participation in Somalia’s development.
He said empowerment, skills development and economic inclusion remain key areas in efforts to improve livelihoods and strengthen communities.
