Somalia signs third ever defence agreement with foreign power

ANKARA, Turkey - Somalia has signed the third-ever defense agreement with a foreign power, just as the country prepares to take over security responsibilities with the peacekeeping mission soldiers set to leave the country.

Abdikadir Mohamed Nur, the minister of defense of the country, announced a defense agreement with Turkey, a country that has been supporting the stabilization mission of the country for the last decade.

Early this week, the two countries signed what was dubbed as “Defense and Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement.” Turkey Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler said he believes the agreement will lead to the further development of “our bilateral military relations."

On his part, Abdikadir Mohamed Nur said the agreement will significantly enhance peace in the Horn of Africa nation. According to him, Somalia will leverage the agreement to boost its security and stability.

“The agreement will significantly elevate Türkiye-Somalia relations and substantially contribute to enhancing peace and security in Somalia and the Horn of Africa region," he said after signing the agreement.

Another Somali official told Voice of America that the deal “strengthens our strategic partnership, fostering security, economic prosperity and safeguarding Somalia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

In December 2023 in Addis Ababa, Abdikadir Mohamed Nur signed a memorandum of understanding on defense cooperation with Ethiopia which he argued will “purposefully promote regional peace and security.”

“Somalia remains committed to strengthening this exceptional relationship as we both strive and continue to foster peace,” he wrote last month. That deal was signed just over three weeks before Ethiopia signed the MoU with Somaliland.

A year ago, the minister also signed another agreement on “military, security cooperation and fighting terrorism” with the UAE. “UAE remains to be a strategic partner in Somalia’s peacebuilding and state-building efforts,” he posted at the time.

The Somali National Army is fighting Alshabab militants in central and southern regions, with the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) set to leave by the end of 2024, under the Somali Transition Plan (STP).

GAROWE ONLINE