MOGADISHU, (HAN) – Somalia’s Minister of Defence, H.E. Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, met on Tuesday with the Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Somalia, H.E. Alper Aktaş, for high-level talks aimed at boosting bilateral cooperation in defence and security, according to an official statement.
The meeting, held at the Ministry of Defence headquarters in Mogadishu, focused on expanding collaboration in military training, institutional development, and Türkiye’s continued support for Somalia’s security sector reform.
Minister Fiqi praised Türkiye’s longstanding assistance, describing the partnership as “strategic” and crucial in rebuilding Somalia’s defence capabilities. He pointed to Türkiye’s investments in military infrastructure, technical assistance, and training programs for Somali Armed Forces.
“Türkiye’s contributions have been instrumental in enhancing the professionalism and operational readiness of our forces,” Fiqi said.
Ambassador Aktaş reaffirmed Ankara’s commitment to Somalia’s stability and sovereignty, stressing that Türkiye would continue to support efforts to build a capable and self-reliant national army. He also underlined the importance of regional security cooperation and sustainable institutional development.
The two officials reviewed progress on existing defence agreements and explored new areas of cooperation, including joint training exercises, logistics, and officer education.
Türkiye remains one of Somalia’s closest international partners and operates Camp TURKSOM, a major military training base in Mogadishu, where thousands of Somali soldiers have been trained since 2017.
The talks come as Somalia advances its national security transition plan, which involves gradually taking over security responsibilities from African Union peacekeeping forces.
