Following talks with Morocco's Foreign Minister, Nasser Bourita, the Somali official said at a press conference that "in Somalia, we stand alongside the Kingdom of Morocco on the issue of its territorial integrity".

He also praised Morocco's ongoing support for Somalia, noting that the agreements signed on Tuesday between the two countries "are very important for the strengthening of Somali institutions."

Awad said that he had instructed his Moroccan counterpart to convey to HM King Mohammed VI an oral message from President of Somalia, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed.

For his part, Bourita said that this meeting was an opportunity to discuss relations between Morocco and Somalia as well as the means to develop them.

The Moroccan minister welcomed Somalia's unwavering support for Morocco's territorial integrity in all international fora.

Bourita noted, on this occasion, that it was agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the area of training and to reinforce cooperation between the foreign affairs ministries of the two countries, in order to support Somali diplomacy in its actions to defend and explain the evolution of the situation in this country.