Somalia’s Minister of Defence Jibril A. Haji recently met with Turkish Ambassador Alper Aktaş to discuss strengthening bilateral ties and accelerating defence cooperation between their two nations.
The Ambassador started by congratulating Jibril on his appointment and reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to Somalia, particularly in rebuilding the Somali National Army (SNA), which is leading decisive operations against the Khawarij threat.
Jibril expressed gratitude for Türkiye’s consistent and strategic support, both in army capacity-building and broader efforts aimed at enhancing public services and national stability.
This meeting builds upon a series of agreements between Somalia and Türkiye aimed at enhancing defence and economic cooperation. Notably, in February 2024, Somalia’s parliament passed a bilateral defence and economic collaboration pact, a 10-year agreement that gives authority to Türkiye to protect Somali waters.
Additionally, in March 2024, Türkiye signed an offshore oil and natural gas cooperation agreement with Somalia, consolidating their bilateral relations following a recent defense deal.
Türkiye has been a significant ally to Somalia, contributing to infrastructure, education, and training Somali military and police. In 2017, Turkey opened its largest overseas military base, Camp TURKSOM, in Mogadishu, which serves as a hub for training Somali Armed Forces.
These developments underscore the deepening strategic partnership between Somalia and Türkiye, reflecting a shared commitment to regional stability and development.