OUAGADOUGOU: The Minister of Internal Security of the Federal Government of Somalia, General Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail (Fartaag), has arrived in Ouagadougou for an official visit to Burkina Faso following a formal invitation from his counterpart, Mahamadou Sana, Minister of Security of Burkina Faso. The Minister and his delegation received a warm welcome upon arrival at Ouagadougou Thomas Sankara International Airport, where they were received by Minister Sana, the Chief of Police, and senior officials from Burkina Faso’s security institutions.
The visit aims to strengthen security cooperation between the two countries, with a particular focus on counterterrorism efforts, intelligence sharing, and enhancing collaboration between security agencies. Both nations face persistent threats from extremist groups operating across the Sahel and Horn of Africa regions. During the visit, both sides are expected to hold high-level discussions on advancing joint strategies to combat extremist groups that pose a threat to regional stability and security.
The visit forms part of the Federal Government of Somalia’s broader efforts to reinforce international partnerships, particularly in the areas of security cooperation and the fight against terrorism. Minister Fartaag has been actively engaged in expanding Somalia’s security collaboration with multiple countries and international organizations in recent months. Somalia and China recently discussed enhanced security cooperation, focusing on law enforcement, counterterrorism, and border security. Similarly, Somalia signed a military pact with Saudi Arabia in Riyadh, underscoring the government’s strategic push to deepen ties with key partners.
Minister Fartaag has also championed stronger engagement with multilateral security frameworks. At the 93rd INTERPOL General Assembly, he emphasized Somalia’s dedication to expanding its role within the organization and securing technical assistance, capacity development, and modern equipment for Somali security forces. Somalia and INTERPOL have deepened cooperation to tackle transnational organized crime, terrorism, and illicit trafficking, with Fartaag committing to improved data-sharing and operational coordination.
The Minister has led a series of high-level bilateral security missions in recent months. He led a Somali delegation to Türkiye for discussions on specialized training in counterterrorism, intelligence gathering, and crisis management. Fartaag also held talks with Iraq’s Minister of Interior, Abdul Amir Al-Shammari, to enhance information sharing, intelligence collaboration, and capacity-building initiatives aimed at combating terrorism. In February, the Somali-Qatari security ministers met in Doha to discuss infrastructure cooperation and security sector development.
Domestically, Fartaag has been instrumental in driving security reforms. He launched the second phase of the Joint Police Programme (JPP II), a critical initiative designed to enhance public security and policing services nationwide. He led a mission to Baidoa amid rising threats, emphasizing the importance of intelligence-sharing and community involvement in combating extremist threats. Somalia celebrated 10 years of security reform with UK support, an event attended by the Minister.
Burkina Faso, like Somalia, has been grappling with a growing insurgency linked to Al-Qaeda and Islamic State affiliates. The West African nation has suffered thousands of deaths and displaced over two million people due to militant violence. The visit signals a potential exchange of best practices in community policing, intelligence-led operations, and stabilization of conflict-affected areas. While no formal agreements have been announced, the high-level nature of the visit suggests both governments are exploring concrete avenues for collaboration, including joint training programs and intelligence-sharing mechanisms. The Somali Minister is expected to return to Mogadishu after concluding his engagements.
