Somali Special Forces Chief in Turkey to Forge Stronger Military Alliance

GOOBJOOG NEWS | ISTANBUL: Somalia’s Special Forces Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Hassan Salaad Abdi is in Turkey for a high-stakes visit aimed at deepening military cooperation with Ankara, a growing lifeline in Somalia’s security revival.

Salaad toured Turkey’s elite Special Forces Command and visited ASELSAN, the country’s powerhouse defense manufacturer known for cutting-edge military technology, as part of a broader push to modernize Somalia’s armed forces.

In a pivotal meeting with Lieutenant General Ömer Ertuğrul Erbakan, Commander of Turkey’s Special Forces, the two sides mapped out plans to ramp up training, equipment support, and joint operations.

The trip marks the latest chapter in a fast-evolving partnership between Somalia and Turkey, with defense ties increasingly seen as crucial to stabilizing Somalia and countering regional threats.

As Mogadishu battles insurgencies and rebuilds its security institutions, Turkish expertise is emerging as a cornerstone of Somalia’s effort to turn the tide.