Turkish Ambassador Visits Somali Information Ministry

MOGADISHU: Somalia and Türkiye have strengthened their bilateral ties through a high-level diplomatic meeting at the Ministry of Information headquarters. The Minister of Information, Culture, and Tourism, Abdifitah Qasim Mohamud, welcomed the Turkish Ambassador to Somalia, Alper Aktaş, to develop a comprehensive framework focusing on media modernization, institutional capacity building, and cross-cultural exchange programs.

The bilateral discussions centered on creating structural cooperation between the state broadcasting systems of both countries. The strategic partnership aims to enhance Somalia’s public information infrastructure by incorporating advanced media technologies and initiating joint production ventures with Turkish state media. This technical collaboration will offer Somali media professionals specialized training in investigative journalism, digital archiving, and broadcast engineering, elevating national media standards to international levels.

Ankara and Mogadishu Forge Media, Culture, and Tourism Partnership

In addition to technical coordination, the meeting covered the preservation of cultural heritage and the development of tourism infrastructure along Somalia’s coastline. The conservation of key landmarks in the capital, including the Lido Secondo Lighthouse and the Old Mogadishu district, is already underway, forming a core part of the ministry’s cultural preservation strategy. Minister Qasim emphasized that the long-standing relationship between Mogadishu and Ankara provides a solid foundation for expanding economic and social cooperation. The newly established agreements will facilitate information sharing, counter regional disinformation campaigns, and showcase Somalia’s cultural heritage globally, reinforcing the nation’s sovereignty and development story.

The priority placed on tourism aligns with a broader infrastructure push; Somalia and Türkiye are also planning a major overhaul of Aden Adde International Airport to enhance international connectivity. Ambassador Aktaş reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to deepening its partnership with Somalia, particularly in infrastructure, transportation, and aviation.

Strengthening Bilateral Ties and Institutional Growth

This diplomatic engagement builds upon a series of recent high-level meetings that underscore the deepening cooperation between the two nations. Minister Qasim, appointed to his position in early May, assumed leadership of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism following a cabinet reshuffle. His counterpart, Ambassador Aktaş, has been actively involved in advancing bilateral ties, including discussions on defense and infrastructure modernization. The Turkish ambassador recently held talks with the Somali Defence Minister regarding military cooperation and training programs for the Somali National Army.

The Turkish Embassy in Somalia has supported several initiatives in technology and education, including the launch of Hack4Somalia, a national tech innovation competition aimed at empowering Somali youth and fostering technological solutions to local challenges. These initiatives align with the broader framework of cooperation between Ankara and Mogadishu, reflecting ongoing commitment to enhancing media freedom, democratic governance, and innovation. Beyond technology, the two countries have launched Somtürk, a major collaborative fisheries enterprise to advance Somalia’s blue economy.

Preserving Cultural Heritage Through International Cooperation

Somalia has also benefited from international partnerships dedicated to preserving its media and cultural legacy. The Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism has collaborated with UNESCO to digitize and preserve over seventy years of historical audio archives from Radio Mogadishu. This initiative aims to safeguard national treasures that have captured pivotal moments in Somalia’s political and social history. Minister Qasim has emphasized that such collaborations align with Somalia’s broader efforts to revitalize cultural institutions and protect intangible heritage, complementing the newly forged ties with Turkish media organizations.

Addressing media representatives after the private meeting, the minister noted that the agreements will also bolster efforts to counter regional disinformation campaigns, a challenge that has drawn the attention of Somalia’s international partners. Türkiye’s Directorate of Communications, in collaboration with Anadolu Agency, recently organized a specialized training session for Somali officials focusing on reporting direct elections, sharing best practices on combating disinformation and ensuring public access to credible information. As Somalia approaches its first nationwide direct elections, such capacity-building efforts are seen as vital to democratic governance.