MOGADISHU — A high-level delegation from the Pakistan Air Force arrived in Mogadishu on Saturday for talks on air defence cooperation, according to Somalia’s Ministry of Defence.
The delegation, led by Air Defence Commander and Deputy Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Muhammad Sarfraz, was received by Somali Air Force Commander Brigadier General Abdirisaq Mohamud Haji.
During their stay, the Pakistani delegation will hold meetings with Somali Air Force Command officials to discuss ways to develop cooperation and strengthen collaboration in air defence, the ministry said.
The visit follows Defence Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi’s trip to Pakistan in August 2026, which focused on strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation in defence and security.
August Defence Agreement Provides Framework
The August visit produced a Memorandum of Understanding on defence cooperation signed in Islamabad by Minister Fiqi and Pakistan’s Minister of Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif, as detailed in FTL Somalia’s report on the Islamabad meetings.
The agreement covers counterterrorism, military training, the exchange of expertise and professional knowledge, defence capacity building, and broader security collaboration.
During that visit, Minister Fiqi also held separate meetings with Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf, and Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu.
Air Force Rebuilding and Potential Fighter Acquisition
Somalia is in advanced negotiations with Pakistan to purchase up to 24 JF-17 Thunder fighter jets in a potential $900 million agreement that would mark the nation’s most ambitious attempt since 1991 to reestablish a sovereign air combat capability, according to reporting on the defence negotiations.
Somalia’s air force effectively collapsed in 1991 with the fall of the Siad Barre government and has not operated modern combat aircraft since. The country’s airspace has largely depended on international partners and foreign military assistance for surveillance and strike operations.
The JF-17, jointly developed by Pakistan and China, is positioned as an affordable multirole fighter featuring an active electronically scanned array radar and compatibility with beyond-visual-range missiles.
Critical Note
The arrival of a senior Pakistan Air Force delegation in Mogadishu marks a practical step in implementing the defence agreement signed in August. The focus on air defence carries weight given Somalia’s long-standing lack of sovereign air capability and its reliance on external partners for aerial surveillance and strikes against Al-Shabaab.
The potential acquisition of JF-17 fighters would represent Somalia’s most ambitious military procurement in decades, but financing arrangements remain unclear, and the reported $900 million value far exceeds Somalia’s current defence budget. Pakistan’s engagement in Somalia fits a broader pattern of building institutional access in the western Indian Ocean without committing to a permanent overseas military presence.
Recommended Reading On ftlsomalia.com
- Defence Minister Fiqi Visits Pakistan’s Air and Naval Headquarters to Strengthen Bilateral Cooperation
- Somalia Partners with Pakistan to Enhance National ID System
- Somalia, Pakistan Establish Visa-Free Travel for Diplomats
- Minister Khadija Al-Makhzoumi Visits Islamabad to Foster Human Rights Capacity Building
- Somalia and Pakistan Foreign Ministers Convene in Brussels to Strengthen Bilateral Relations
- Pakistan Calls for Release of 10 Crew Members Held in Somalia Since April
