 Russia’s Deputy Defense Minister, Mr. Vasily Osmakov, recently met with Somalia’s State Defense Minister, Mr. Omar Ali Abdi, to discuss the potential for military and security cooperation between the two countries. A statement from the Russian defense ministry confirmed that the meeting focused on key issues related to the defense partnership, and both officials expressed their commitment to further discussions and strengthening military cooperation. The topics of discussion included a military training project, counterterrorism efforts, and technical collaboration. Photos from the meeting, held at the Russian defense ministry in Moscow, were shared on Russian media. This follows a previous meeting in May between Russia’s non-resident ambassador to Somalia, Mr. Mikhail Golovanov, and Somalia’s President, Mr. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, where the president confirmed his participation in the third Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow on October 28-29, 2026.
Somalia and Italy have recently engaged in discussions regarding the enhancement of military training and security cooperation
In addition, Somalia’s Ground Forces Commander, General Sahal Abdullahi, recently met with a delegation from the Italian government in Mogadishu to discuss strengthening cooperation in military training and support for Somalia’s armed forces. The Italian delegation, led by the Italian Military Liaison to Somalia, was welcomed at the Military Command of the Somali National Army, where senior officers received them. Discussions focused on expanding cooperation between the Italian and Somali armed forces, including technical support, training for ground forces, and rebuilding the capacity of Somalia’s defense agencies. General Sahal also highlighted the urgent needs of the ground forces and emphasized the importance of international cooperation in maintaining security achievements. The Italian officials expressed their appreciation for the warm reception and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Somalia’s security institutions, particularly through training, logistics, and defense cooperation. Italy has a long history of engagement with Somalia in both security and development, and has played a significant role in supporting military training and stabilization efforts in the country.
