Somalia on Saturday voiced concern over damage to Qatar’s embassy in Kyiv during a Russian attack and urged full respect for international law protecting diplomats and foreign missions.
In a statement, Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it regretted the damage to the Qatari Embassy building and emphasized the inviolability of diplomatic premises under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
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“The Federal Republic of Somalia expresses its profound concern over the damage sustained by the Embassy of the brotherly State of Qatar in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, as a result of shelling,” the ministry said, underscoring that diplomatic missions and personnel must be protected at all times.
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said earlier that its embassy in the Ukrainian capital was damaged during Russian strikes overnight but reported no injuries among staff. Doha did not disclose the extent of the damage.
Somalia’s statement reiterated that host states bear a fundamental obligation to ensure the security and inviolability of diplomatic facilities, calling for adherence to international legal norms even amid armed conflict. The Vienna Convention, a cornerstone of diplomatic law, requires receiving states to protect foreign missions against intrusion, harm or impairment of dignity.
The episode adds to the hazards facing diplomatic missions in Kyiv as Russia’s war in Ukraine enters another year. Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities have repeatedly damaged civilian infrastructure since the invasion began, occasionally affecting foreign diplomatic compounds based in the capital.
Somalia’s expression of solidarity with Qatar aligns with a broader chorus of governments that have condemned or raised alarms over the risks to diplomats and international organizations operating in conflict zones. While embassies typically take extensive protective measures, international law places primary responsibility on host authorities to prevent and respond to threats that could endanger personnel or disrupt consular and diplomatic services.
Details about the specific strike affecting the Qatari Embassy and the scale of the damage were not immediately available. Ukraine’s air defenses regularly confront waves of missiles and drones targeting the capital, with debris and blast waves sometimes impacting nearby structures, including residential buildings and offices.
Somalia’s Foreign Ministry did not indicate whether it was in contact with Qatari counterparts regarding any follow-up measures, but it framed its message as a reminder of the non-negotiable standards governing diplomatic engagement. Such standards are designed to protect channels of communication between states, especially during crises.
There were no reports of casualties linked to the incident at the time of the statement.
Somalia’s call highlights a growing concern among countries whose diplomats continue to operate in Ukraine and other conflict theaters. Ensuring the safety of foreign missions has become an urgent priority as hostilities evolve, air defenses are tested, and the risk of collateral damage persists. For many governments, safeguarding embassies is not only a legal duty, but a practical imperative to keep consular services functioning and diplomatic contacts open.
Qatar has maintained its embassy in Kyiv throughout the conflict. The country, like others with personnel stationed in Ukraine, has occasionally adjusted operations in response to security assessments while emphasizing the need to uphold norms that protect diplomats and their workplaces.
Somalia’s government concluded its statement by urging respect for international humanitarian and diplomatic law “even during armed conflict,” a principle tested repeatedly as the war continues to batter Ukraine’s cities and strain the framework meant to shield those who carry out diplomacy in times of war.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
