On Friday, the Commander of Turkish Ground Forces, General Metin Tokel arrived in Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital, on a 2-day official working visit. Somalia’s Land Forces Commander, General Sahal Abdullahi Omar, has received his Turkish counterpart upon arrival at Adden Adde International Airport.
Reports say that the main objective behind the visit of the Turkish General to Somalia is to implement defense agreements signed earlier between Ankara and Mogadishu, which are aimed at deepening the strategic military cooperation and the joint collaboration of the two armies.
Reports further indicate that Somali Military officers as well as Turkish officers will hold high-level discussions in Mogadishu, where the two sides will discuss on a plan that Turkey intends to expand the military training given to the Somali National Army in order to enhance their capability and rebuild a robust Somali Army.
The visit of the Turkish General to Mogadishu is a clear indication which represents the strengthening relationship between Somalia and Turkey in the fields of security, and defense cooperation. The two sides will discuss ways to further expand the existing military cooperation and to strengthen the ongoing efforts in the stabilization of Somalia.
The Turkish government, which is a close ally to Somalia, is expanding the military training conducted inside Somalia in order to rebuild robust Somali security forces. Turkish military officers will train new security forces for the Somali Federal Government in order to upgrade the quality and combat preparedness of the Somali National Army.
Somalia and Turkey signed defense and economic pacts in February 2024. In the agreement, Turkey is assisting Somalia in protecting Somalia’s coasts, which is part of the ongoing efforts to rebuild strong coast guards. The agreement signed between Ankara and Mogadishu stipulates that Turkey must train Somali coast guards and provide them with equipment for ten years.
Turkish military officers used to provide training given to the Somali security forces in its military base in Mogadishu-known as-TURKSOM. It is expected that Turkey will conduct military training in Qorilow military training school in the Middle Shabelle region.
Turkey trained thousands of Somali security forces in its military base known as TURKSOM in Mogadishu, particularly the training was benefited by specially trained for counterterrorism operations known as Gorgor Commandos as well as specially trained police force known as Harama’ad.
Turkish defense cooperation with Somalia is intended to accelerate in rebuilding and upgrading the quality and defense capabilities of Somalia’s security forces. Turkey is a close partner to the Somali Federal Government and cooperates in the areas of security.
