Turkey is our strategic partner, says Somalia president

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has lauded Turkey for its supportive role to the country, noting that Ankara has been a crucial development and financial partner of Mogadishu for the last decade, adding that the European nation also supports security forces.

While meeting Turkish ambassador to Somalia Ibrahim Mete Yagli in the central town of Dhusamareb, Hassan Sheikh said Somalia will closely work with Turkey on matters of humanitarian support, development, and security, which have been major challenges for the Horn of Africa nation.

Yagli was accompanied by TurkSom Chief Commander Brig. Gen. Sebahattin Kalkan. For years, Turkey has been helping with the stabilization of Somalia, building one of the largest army training schools in the country as part of the building process.

The TurkSom military base is located in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, and is home to Gorgor commandos and Haramacad police officers, a paramilitary wing of the police force in Somalia. So far, the facility has supported over 5,000 army officers who are actively involved in the Al-Shabaab war.

“During the meeting, the president commended the distinguished close relations between the two brotherly countries," Somalia’s Presidency said in a statement on X.

Somalia is actively campaigning to have arms embargo lifted by the United Nations Security Council, but the quest is yet to be admitted. Since the collapse of the military regime under Siad Barre, Somalia faced international sanctions, preventing the country from making purchases of certain weapons.

Somalia is enjoying a close economic, diplomatic, and military friendship with Türkiye that has been growing since Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Somalia in 2011. Turkey has the biggest embassy in Somalia, a further indication of close ties between Mogadishu and Ankara.

On the humanitarian front, Turkey has been assisting Somalia during famine, floods, and even in the evacuation of victims of Al-Shabaab attacks for further treatment abroad. The country is also supporting Somalia's development course, including road infrastructure among other disciplines.

Garowe Online + Anadolu Agency