Turkey Appoints Veteran Diplomat Ferhat Alkan as New Ambassador to Somalia

GOOBJOOG NEWS|ANKARA: Turkey has appointed seasoned diplomat Ferhat Alkan as its new ambassador to Somalia, replacing Alper Aktaş as Ankara continues to deepen its strategic engagement with Mogadishu.
The appointment was made through a decree issued by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. Alkan is expected to assume his new diplomatic responsibilities in Somalia in the coming period.
Alkan joins the Somali posting after serving as Turkey’s ambassador to Mozambique, a position he held from February 2025. He is a career diplomat with more than two decades of experience in Turkey’s foreign service.
Over the course of his diplomatic career, Alkan has held several senior positions across different regions and departments. His past assignments include service at Turkish embassies in Washington, D.C., and Kabul, as well as a posting at the consulate in Houston. He has also served as First Counsellor in Beijing, reflecting extensive experience in Asia-focused diplomacy.
Within Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he has held strategic roles including Head of the Libya Desk, Special Adviser to the Deputy Foreign Minister, Deputy Director General for China Affairs, and Protocol Director at the Presidential level.
His predecessor in Mogadishu, Alper Aktaş, worked closely with Somali federal institutions and political leadership during a period marked by expanding cooperation between Turkey and Somalia, particularly in security, infrastructure development, humanitarian assistance, and economic engagement.
Turkey remains one of Somalia’s most significant international partners, with a broad cooperation portfolio spanning governance support, education, defense, and development cooperation.
Alkan’s appointment is expected to further reinforce Ankara’s long-standing diplomatic and strategic presence in Somali