Mogadishu, Somalia – The push by Somalia to expand opportunities for its growing workforce took a major step forward this week after Labour Minister Yusuf Mohamed met his Turkish counterpart, Prof. Dr. Vedat Işıkhan, in Doha to fast-track the implementation of a labour cooperation deal between the two nations.
The agreement, originally approved by Somalia’s Cabinet in July 2025, is designed to spur job creation and strengthen institutional capacities within Somalia’s labour sector.
During their talks, both ministers reaffirmed their commitment to formally sign the accord in Türkiye in the coming weeks—a move Somali officials view as pivotal for tackling unemployment and enhancing workforce mobility.
According to sources familiar with the meeting, the two ministers did more than just exchange diplomatic assurances. They agreed on concrete steps to initiate joint training programs for Somali labour officials, allowing them to learn directly from Türkiye’s advanced vocational and employment systems.
Officials in Mogadishu hope that such exposure will modernize how Somalia manages labour markets, job placement, and migrant worker policies.
For Somalia, which has long relied on foreign partnerships to bolster national institutions, Türkiye remains one of its most consistent allies. From infrastructure to defence cooperation, Ankara’s footprint in the Horn of Africa is well established, and this new labour framework is expected to further deepen that relationship.
Mohamed described the talks as “productive and forward-looking,” saying the partnership is not just about paperwork but about creating pathways for real employment opportunities at home and abroad.
With the official signing ceremony now on the horizon, both governments appear eager to turn promises into programs—giving young Somalis hope that international diplomacy may soon translate into tangible livelihoods.