Mogadishu, Somalia — The British Embassy in Mogadishu has marked the birthday of King Charles III with a reception in the Somali capital, bringing together senior Somali leaders, diplomats, and business figures, and highlighting warm UK–Somalia relations.
The event took place on November 19, 2025, inside the fortified embassy compound. Somalia’s Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre attended alongside cabinet ministers, representatives of international organisations, and civil society leaders.
Embassy staff said they wanted a more personal gathering than a standard protocol reception and aimed to show how the partnership between the United Kingdom and Somalia plays out in daily life.
The King’s Birthday Party has become a regular public diplomacy event for the United Kingdom in Somalia. This year’s reception mixed short speeches with music, food, and informal conversations.
Guests moved between stalls, spoke with embassy teams, and posed for photos. At the same time, officials pointed to Somali partners they described as “changemakers” in government, business, and culture.
Partnership on display
British and Somali officials used the evening to outline areas of cooperation in education, health, and economic reform.
They also cited support for Somalia’s security institutions, joint work on maritime security, climate resilience projects, and efforts to strengthen public financial management.
According to the embassy, these programmes show how UK–Somalia relations now extend beyond traditional aid.
British Ambassador Charles King, hosting his first King’s Birthday Party in Mogadishu, said the celebration offered a chance to recognise Somalis who drive change in their communities.
“This is my first King’s Birthday event here, and I could not think of a better way to mark it than in the company of Somali changemakers — young scholars, government officials, entrepreneurs and innovators who are shaping the Somalia of tomorrow,” King said, praising guests for work that, in his words, “keeps our relationship strong and successful”.
“The UK is proud to stand with Somalia as a steadfast partner,” he added. He said the relationship rests on “trust, respect and shared ambition”.
He pointed to personal ties between British and Somali counterparts — from senior ministers to technical experts — as a key factor in keeping cooperation aligned with Somalia’s shifting priorities.
Somali officials at the event welcomed the United Kingdom’s role in supporting the federal government during a period of political transition, economic pressure, and persistent security threats from armed groups.
They said external partnerships will remain crucial as Somalia seeks debt relief, reforms state institutions, and expands basic services such as schools, hospitals, and roads.
Culture and photos
Visually, the reception drew on the idea of a British country fair. Embassy staff served fish and chips and other British-style snacks. At the same time, Somali dancers performed to live music in the courtyard.
A classic London black cab parked inside the compound functioned as a photo booth and a reminder of the UK capital.
Guests said the lighter tone provided a rare social evening in a city still defined by blast walls and checkpoints.
Embassy staff said they hoped the mix of music, food, and informal discussion would make it easier for people from different institutions to talk outside formal conference settings.
Officials also stressed that the King’s Birthday Party forms only one part of a wider diplomatic effort.
The United Kingdom finances programmes on education, job creation, and policing, and works with local and federal authorities as they extend services and respond to recurring droughts and floods across Somalia.
Calendars of resilience
A central feature of the evening was the launch of a 2026 wall calendar backed by Somali firms Hormuud, Whitestar, and Salaam Bank. Organisers selected the images through a nationwide photography competition.
The photographs show everyday life and resilience across the country, from coastal towns and rural landscapes to crowded markets and fast-growing city streets.
Guests received copies of the calendar as gifts. Embassy officials said the project aims to present Somalia through the eyes of local photographers at a time when international coverage often focuses on conflict and political crisis.
Each image, they said, underlines that most Somalis experience their country through ordinary routines, work, and family life.
Guests and embassy staff are sharing photos and short videos from the reception on social media under the hashtag #KBPMogadishu, extending the event’s reach beyond the compound.
Officials hope those posts, alongside the calendar images, will feed a broader discussion about how Somalia is perceived abroad.
Although largely ceremonial, the reception carried a clear political signal, officials from both sides said.
Despite security threats, climate shocks, and economic strain in the Horn of Africa, they argued that the partnership between Somalia and the United Kingdom remains active, visible, and focused on Somalia’s long-term stability.