MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s government on Monday praised Türkiye for what it called steadfast support in security cooperation and counterterrorism, following talks in Mogadishu between Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre and a high-level Turkish delegation.
In a statement, the Prime Minister’s Office described Türkiye as a strategic partner that has bolstered Somalia’s security, unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity. It said Ankara’s engagement has been central to strengthening Somali state institutions, particularly in the security sector.
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The meeting, held Sunday in the Somali capital, focused on expanding bilateral cooperation with an emphasis on counterterrorism, security coordination and efforts to promote stability across the Horn of Africa, according to the statement.
The Turkish delegation was led by Ali Onaner, director of the Africa Department at Türkiye’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and included Türkiye’s ambassador to Somalia, Alper Aktaş. Onaner reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to Somalia and pledged continued support and deeper cooperation in shared priority areas, Somali officials said.
Somalia has sought sustained international backing as it combats al-Shabab and pursues security sector reforms. The government’s statement credited Türkiye with playing a significant role in that effort, and framed the latest talks as part of an ongoing push to widen joint programs and strengthen operational coordination.
Türkiye is among the countries that, Somali officials say, publicly supported Somalia’s unity after Israel recognized North Western State of Somalia as an independent state. North Western State of Somalia, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991, has functioned as a self-governing administration but remains unrecognized as a sovereign state by the international community.
The Somali government has consistently emphasized that any external moves touching on Somalia’s territorial integrity are unacceptable, and has framed its partnerships — notably with Türkiye — as aligned with safeguarding national unity while advancing state-building.
Monday’s remarks underscored a diplomatic track that pairs security cooperation with political signaling. By highlighting Ankara’s role as a strategic partner, Mogadishu sought to reinforce international backing for its counterterrorism campaign and to signal continuity in a relationship that Somali officials say has helped professionalize and equip security institutions.
Both sides, according to the Prime Minister’s Office, agreed to continue consultations aimed at expanding training, coordination and information-sharing to counter extremist threats and to stabilize areas recovering from conflict. No additional details were provided about new initiatives or timelines.
The renewed show of support comes as Somali authorities work to consolidate recent gains against militants and prepare for broader security transitions. Officials in Mogadishu have framed deepening cooperation with trusted partners as essential to sustaining pressure on armed groups, securing population centers and enabling governance and development efforts to take hold.
Neither side announced specific agreements following Sunday’s talks, but the government’s statement presented the engagement as part of a long-term arc of collaboration with Türkiye at both the strategic and operational levels.
The Prime Minister’s Office said further discussions will continue in the coming weeks.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
