Thursday 27,March 2025 {HMC} Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has departed for Turkey on a working visit following an official invitation from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
President Mohamud will hold talks with his Turkish counterpart focusing on strengthening bilateral cooperation, particularly in military and security, as well as reinforcing Somalia’s ongoing efforts to combat Al-Shabaab, according to a statement from the Somali Presidency.
“This visit is important for efforts to strengthen cooperation between Somalia and Turkey in eradicating terrorism, as the Somali government is committed to the hard fight against Al-Shabaab to ensure stability, peace, and reconstruction of the country,” the statement said.
Somalia and Turkey maintain a strong and strategic partnership that covers a wide range of sectors, including security, military, trade, the blue economy, energy, and education. Turkey is the leading international supporter of Somalia’s military capacity-building, especially in training Somali forces and assisting in counterterrorism operations.
Recently, Turkey delivered advanced Bayraktar Akinci unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) to Somalia, fulfilling a long-anticipated military pledge to increase Somalia’s fight against Al-Shabaab.
The deployment of the Akinci drones marks a significant milestone in Somalia-Turkey military cooperation and further strengthens Turkey’s strategic presence in the Horn of Africa.
