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Salam, Jambo and Botè!
Welcome to the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Nairobi!
For those not in the know about Azerbaijan let me start with a short introduction. Having regained independence in 1991 following the collapse of the Soviet Union, my country has come a long way from a war-affected state with 20% of its internationally recognized territory occupied, and 1 million IDPs and refugees to one of the leaders of the region. Having fully restored its territorial integrity in 2023, and currently implementing one of the biggest post-conflict reconstruction and rehabilitation programs in the world, Azerbaijan is building on its traditional partnerships while actively working on harnessing new cooperation avenues.
Africa is all about partnerships and opportunities, and it is precisely these that make the continent one of our top priorities. Though diplomatic relations between our country and the Republic Kenya, also the Republic of Congo were established years ago, we are only starting the exciting journey of establishing vibrant ties in a number of areas. We have so much to offer to each other – from the mesmerizing beauty of Maasai Mara, to the whisper of the centuries in the Old City; from the pristine sand of the Kenya's and Kongo-Brazzaville’s beaches fringed by the Indian and Atlantic Oceans to the rich ecosystems and diverse landscapes of Khazar, as we call the Caspian Sea; and from the roar of lions across Kenyan savannah and gorillas in Kongo-Brazzaville’s tropical forests to the revving engines of the Formula racing cars in Baku, the Azerbaijani capital.
We arrived in Nairobi in the summer of 2023, and are proud of the initial results of the efforts we have made jointly with our friends and counterparts for strengthening existing and identifying new areas of cooperation in the best interest of our nations.
Having hosted COP29 last November, we also look forward to welcoming the World Urban Forum in 2026, which are the 2 biggest UN-organized international forums globally, as well as World Environment Day that same year.
We are confident there are many areas where our countries can and will get closer no matter the geographic distance.
Sag olun, Asante Sana, Koya Elamu!
Sultan Hajiyev,
Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Kenya and Kongo-Brazzaville,
Permanent Representative of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the UN Office in Nairobi