Somalia Army Chief in Turkey for Talks on Military Cooperation

GOOBJOOG NEWS | ANKARA: Somalia’s army chief General Ibrahim Mohamed Mohamud and a senior delegation has arrived in Ankara for talks with Turkish military officials expected to focus on training, equipment and strengthening the capabilities of Somalia’s armed forces.

The visit is aimed at deepening defence cooperation between the two countries and advancing programmes to improve the training and operational capacity of the Somali National Army.

The Somali delegation is expected to meet senior Turkish military officials during the visit, with discussions set to cover military training, equipment and broader efforts to strengthen Somalia’s defence institutions.

Turkey has been one of Somalia’s most important military partners over the past decade. Ankara has trained thousands of Somali soldiers at its facilities in Turkey and at the TURKSOM military training base in Mogadishu.

The partnership has become increasingly important as Somalia works to build a national army capable of assuming greater responsibility for the country’s security after years of heavy reliance on international forces.

Somali forces are continuing operations against Al-Shabab, while the government is also working to improve the organisation, training and capabilities of its security institutions.

For Ankara, military cooperation with Somalia forms part of a much broader strategic relationship that includes security, trade, infrastructure and energy. Turkey has maintained a significant presence in Somalia since opening its embassy in Mogadishu in 2011 and has expanded its defence partnership with the country in recent years.

The two countries signed a defence and economic cooperation framework in 2024, under which Turkey agreed to support Somalia’s maritime security and broader defence capabilities. Turkey has also provided training and assistance to Somali security forces.

The latest visit comes as Mogadishu seeks to strengthen its forces and prepare them to take greater responsibility for national defence.

For Somalia, the focus is not only on increasing the number of trained troops but also on developing professional forces with stronger command structures, discipline and operational capabilities.

The meetings in Ankara are expected to provide an opportunity for both sides to review existing military cooperation and identify areas for further support in training and equipment.

The visit underlines Turkey’s continuing role as one of Somalia’s key defence partners as the government seeks to build a more capable and self-reliant national security force.