MOGADISHU — Somalia’s Minister of Defense, Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, on Sunday held talks with China’s Ambassador to Somalia, Wang Yu, focusing on expanding bilateral defense cooperation, counterterrorism efforts, and the future of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).
According to Somalia’s Ministry of Defense, the meeting reviewed the federal government’s ongoing military campaign against the al-Qaeda-linked militant group Al-Shabaab, the evolving role of AUSSOM, and opportunities to deepen cooperation between Mogadishu and Beijing in the defense and security sectors.
The discussions also explored ways to strengthen the capacity of Somalia’s security institutions as the Federal Government continues efforts to assume full responsibility for national security while international partners reassess their long-term military and financial commitments.
Minister Fiqi expressed appreciation for China’s continued support for Somalia, particularly Beijing’s longstanding backing of the country’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. He also reaffirmed Mogadishu’s commitment to strengthening relations with China across areas of mutual interest.
The meeting comes just days after the commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, emphasized that future American support would increasingly depend on Somalia’s ability to take greater ownership of its security responsibilities and address persistent political divisions.
Although Somalia’s Ministry of Defense did not directly link the talks with China to recent statements from Washington, the engagement reflects Mogadishu’s broader strategy of maintaining strong relations with a diverse range of international partners as it navigates evolving geopolitical dynamics and uncertainty surrounding future security assistance.
China has long supported Somalia through infrastructure development, humanitarian assistance, diplomatic engagement and capacity-building initiatives. While Beijing maintains defense cooperation with Mogadishu, its military role has generally remained more limited than that of the United States, Türkiye and other key security partners involved in supporting Somalia’s security transition.
The meeting underscores Somalia’s continued efforts to diversify its international partnerships while securing sustained political, economic and security support as the country advances security sector reforms, expands counterterrorism operations, and prepares for the gradual transfer of greater security responsibilities to Somali forces.
