Somali, Turkish Officials Discuss Enhanced Military Cooperation

MOGADISHU: The Minister of Defence of the Federal Government of Somalia, Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, has held high-level talks with the Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Somalia, Alper Aktaş, and the head of the TURKSOM military mission, General Sebahattin Kalkan, at his office in the capital. The discussions focused on strengthening military cooperation, enhancing training programmes for the Somali National Army (SNA), and deepening the strategic defence partnership between the two nations.

Minister Fiqi expressed his appreciation for Türkiye’s consistent and multifaceted support to the Somali people and government. He underscored that the robust bilateral relationship between Somalia and Turkey would help counter those opposing the nation’s advancement. Concluding the meeting, the minister acknowledged all of Somalia’s international security partners for their essential contributions to rebuilding the National Armed Forces and to ongoing counter‑terrorism efforts.

The meeting reflects the longstanding and expanding defence ties between Mogadishu and Ankara. Turkey has been one of Somalia’s most consistent security partners, providing comprehensive military training, equipment, and capacity‑building support. Its involvement has been pivotal in the establishment and operations of the TURKSOM Military Academy in Mogadishu, which has trained thousands of Somali soldiers and officers since its founding in 2017. Minister Fiqi has previously described the academy as “a cornerstone in our journey towards building a capable, self-reliant, and professional national army.” The TURKSOM mission, led by General Kalkan, has also embedded advisers with elite Somali special forces, including the Gorgor Commandos, and supports a wide range of tactical and logistical operations.

Turkey’s commitment to Somalia’s security sector has manifested in various forms, including the delivery of advanced weaponry. In February 2026, Turkish military transports offloaded M48 and M60 Patton battle tanks at Mogadishu Port to protect critical aerospace and satellite projects being established in Somalia, significantly escalating Ankara’s military footprint in the Horn of Africa. The two countries have also held successive rounds of high-level defence talks. In January 2026, Minister Fiqi and Ambassador Aktaş met at the Turkish Embassy in Mogadishu to deepen bilateral security ties. In July 2025, Fiqi and his Turkish counterpart, Yaşar Güler, signed an amendment to the Financial Assistance Agreement, marking a new phase of enhanced military cooperation.

On the sidelines of the SAHA EXPO 2026 defence fair in Istanbul, Minister Fiqi reached an agreement with the head of Turkey’s Defence Industry Agency to expand collaboration on defence capacity development, technical assistance, and the modernisation of Somali military institutions. Senior Somali defence officials have also held working meetings in Ankara to identify technical collaboration opportunities and accelerate defence sector reforms. The Gorgor special forces, trained at the TURKSOM academy, have graduated multiple cohorts and are actively engaged in counter‑terrorism operations across central and southern Somalia, contributing to the government’s drive to stabilise the nation and protect its civilians.

The meeting between Minister Fiqi, Ambassador Aktaş, and General Kalkan underscores the depth of the strategic defence partnership between Somalia and Türkiye. As Somalia intensifies its efforts to assume full security responsibility from international partners and transition to a self‑reliant defence posture, Ankara’s role remains central to professionalising the Somali National Army and advancing regional stability.