MOGADISHU — Türkiye’s Commander of the Land Forces, General Metin Tokel, visited Mogadishu to attend the graduation ceremony of Somali military personnel at the TURKSOM Military Training Academy, highlighting the continued cooperation between Türkiye and Somalia in the field of security and defense.
During his visit, General Tokel was welcomed at the Turkish Embassy in Mogadishu, where officials expressed their honor at hosting the senior Turkish military commander and emphasized the importance of the longstanding partnership between the two countries.
The TURKSOM graduation ceremony marked
another milestone in Türkiye’s support for Somalia’s efforts to build a professional and capable national military. The academy has played a central role in training Somali soldiers and strengthening the capacity of Somalia’s security institutions.
Türkiye has maintained close relations with Somalia for more than a decade, providing military training, development assistance, and support for state-building efforts. The partnership has become a key component of Somalia’s strategy to improve security and strengthen its armed forces.
The visit by General Tokel comes as Somalia continues efforts to reform its security sector, expand the capabilities of its armed forces, and address ongoing security challenges, including the fight against militant groups.
Turkish and Somali officials have repeatedly described their cooperation as a strategic partnership based on mutual interests, with defense and security cooperation remaining one of the central pillars of bilateral relations.
The TURKSOM academy, established in Mogadishu in 2017, represents one of Türkiye’s largest overseas military training missions and has trained thousands of Somali troops since its establishment.
