Duchess of Edinburgh Undertakes Rare Somalia Visit to Champion Victims of Sexual Violence
The Duchess of Edinburgh has reinforced her commitment to assisting survivors of sexual and gender-based violence by embarking on a significant diplomatic mission to Somalia. Sophie, aged 61, spent two days in the East African nation at the invitation of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, arriving in the capital Mogadishu on February 23.
High-Level Discussions and Survivor Engagement
During her visit, the Duchess, who is dedicated to highlighting violence against women worldwide, held a meeting with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud at Villa Somalia. Their discussions centred on how women can contribute to building peace and strengthening community resilience across the country.
Sophie was later accompanied by the president's daughter, Jihan Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, to meet with survivors of gender and sexual-based violence perpetrated by al-Shabaab militants. She also received detailed briefings from key local partners regarding the prevalence of SGBV throughout Somali society.
Community Visits and Hospital Tour
In a poignant moment during a visit to a Somali village in Lower Shabelle, the empathetic Duchess spoke with wives of Somali soldiers about the risks of violence and the numerous personal challenges they confront daily. The following day, Sophie convened a meeting at the British Embassy with Somali organisations and partners to examine the array of gender-based challenges exacerbated by conflict, drought, and resource shortages.
Her itinerary included a visit to a hospital in central Mogadishu where she learned about the devastating impact of female genital mutilation, rape, and sexual assault on Somali women. The Duchess was briefed on the role of a UK-funded service programme that has strengthened healthcare delivery for survivors.
Programme Details and Security Considerations
The sexual and reproductive health programme operates across 39 health facilities in five Somali regions and is managed by the International Rescue Committee. As a champion of the UN's Women, Peace and Security Agenda, Sophie has consistently focused her royal charity work on raising awareness of SGBV and advocating for greater access to essential resources for women.
Her profound trip also served to reaffirm the UK's commitment to its strategic partnership with Somalia and demonstrate public solidarity with the nation's security forces. According to Buckingham Palace, the Duchess's visit aimed to shed light on the crucial role women play in peacebuilding, strengthening community resilience, and supporting survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.
Due to security concerns, her arrival in Somalia was not announced in advance, with citizens advised to avoid travel to the war-torn country because of terrorist threats and ongoing violence.
Regional Diplomacy and Ongoing Advocacy
On February 24, Sophie continued her regional diplomatic engagements by travelling to Kenya for a two-day visit. Ahead of International Women's Day on March 8, the Duchess is set to promote the role of Kenyan women in fostering peace, security, and growth amidst conflict.
According to the British High Commission in Nairobi, Sophie is keen to strengthen UK-Kenya collaboration, including supporting the implementation of Kenya's National Action Plan. Since beginning her royal career, Sophie has pledged to raise awareness about sexual violence, having visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo in October to highlight the weaponisation of rape.
Extensive Humanitarian Experience
During her three-day DRC visit, she met women peacebuilders working at grassroots levels to support local peace initiatives and witnessed the devastating impact of ongoing conflict, particularly on women and girls. In recent years, the King's sister-in-law, married to his brother Prince Edward, has travelled to numerous current and former war zones including Chad, Congo, Kosovo, South Chad, Lebanon, and Sierra Leone.
She has devoted much of her later working life as a royal to supporting the Women, Peace and Security Agenda and championing gender equality. In 2022, Sophie became the first member of the royal family to travel to the DRC, and her visit this week marked her second journey to the region at the request of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Recent Royal Engagements and Family Matters
In April 2024, she was also the first royal family member to visit Ukraine since the conflict with Russia began in 2022. That October, she became the first to visit the Republic of Chad to witness the impact of the Sudan conflict on women and girls. In June, the Duchess spoke passionately about her campaign to highlight the plight of sexual violence victims, insisting that society must do better.
At the UK's first exhibition dedicated to the subject, Sophie declared that sexual violence in conflict remains woefully under-discussed. She spoke movingly about her 2019 visit to Kosovo and how deeply affected she was when speaking to women about the shame and stigma they experienced after being brutalised.
Discussing the horror of women who became pregnant through their attackers, she emphasised: Unless we as a society help, we have to help people understand that they are not the ones who have the shame. It is not their lives who should be destroyed. We have to do better.
Sophie's visit coincided with her husband, Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, being forced to withdraw from a key royal event at St James's Palace with King Charles, Queen Camilla, Princess Anne, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester on February 24. While no official statement was issued, his absence was attributed to unexpectedly contracting a cold.
As the royals presented awards to 19 universities and colleges, it marked the largest gathering of the Royal Family since Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest on February 19. Following his brother's arrest concerning allegations of misconduct in public office, the King expressed his deepest concern and pledged that his family would continue their duty and service to the nation.
