Ahmed Dirie, Chairman of the Israel and Somaliland Friendship and Abrahamic Movement, has issued a statement praising the rapid expansion of the movement’s interfaith outreach program across the Middle East, Africa, and parts of Europe, crediting the leadership of Tom Weger for the growth.

In his remarks, Dirie called for a renewed emphasis on open dialogue and mutual understanding as the foundation for bridging divides between communities of different faiths and cultures.

“Ideas That Foster Interaction, Love, and Respect”

A Growing Interfaith Footprint

Dirie’s remarks come as the Abrahamic Movement’s outreach continues to widen its geographic reach, moving beyond its origins in the Horn of Africa to programs now active across the Middle East, other African nations, and select European countries. The organization has positioned itself as a vehicle for grassroots ties between Israel and Somaliland, an unrecognized but self-governing territory in the Horn of Africa that has pursued closer relations with Israel in recent years.

“We must strive to bring together people who are divided or who have different views. First, we must put the emphasis on understanding each other.” Ahmed Dirie, Chairman, Israel and Somaliland Friendship and Abrahamic Movement

Dirie framed the movement’s work as an ongoing effort rooted in dialogue rather than declaration — an approach he described as the surest way to dismantle misconceptions built up between communities over generations. His statement closed with a bilingual blessing, invoking both the Somali phrase “Wabilahi Towfiiq” and the Hebrew greeting “Shabbat Shalom,” a small but symbolic gesture reflecting the cross-cultural spirit at the center of the movement’s mission.

Khurram Ali Raza

Khurram Ali Raza writes for Faith & Freedom News on interfaith affairs, religious freedom, and geopolitics across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia.