Somali Army Chief visits Ankara to bolster defense ties with Turkey

Somali Army Chief Major General Ibrahim Mohamed Mohamud arrived in Ankara to hold high-level discussions with Turkish defense officials aimed at strengthening bilateral military cooperation. The visit, which included a delegation of senior military officers, follows a 2024 defense and economic framework agreement between the two nations.

Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler met with the Somali delegation, with Turkish Army Chief General Selcuk Bayraktaroglu also in attendance. The talks focused on enhancing military coordination, expanding training programs, and improving the capacity of the Somali National Army. Discussions are also expected to cover equipment support to assist Somali forces in taking on greater security responsibilities.

Turkey has been a central partner in rebuilding Somalia’s security agencies, providing training at facilities in Turkey and the TURKSOM base in Mogadishu. This engagement comes as Somalia seeks to bolster its capabilities for counter-insurgency operations and stabilization missions amidst a complex security environment.