The Commander of the Somali National Army (SNA), Major General Ibrahim Mohamed Mahmoud, has welcomed the Deputy Commander of the Turkish Naval Forces, Admiral Mustafa Kaya, and the delegation he is leading at the SNA General Headquarters in Mogadishu.
The high-level visit reflects the deepening defense cooperation between the Federal Republic of Somalia and the Republic of Türkiye, particularly in the areas of military capacity building, maritime security, and institutional development of the armed forces.
During the meeting, Major General Ibrahim Mohamed Mahmoud emphasized the importance the SNA leadership places on rebuilding, strengthening, and modernizing the Somali Navy and Coast Guard. He noted that enhancing maritime defense capabilities is a national priority, given Somalia’s long coastline and the strategic importance of securing its territorial waters against threats such as piracy, illegal fishing, smuggling, and terrorism.
The discussions focused on advancing joint efforts in training, technical support, and strategic planning aimed at developing professional and capable naval forces. Both sides reviewed ongoing cooperation programs and explored additional avenues to expand support in areas including specialized training, operational readiness, and the development of elite and special units within the Somali armed forces.
While in Somalia, the Turkish delegation is scheduled to hold further meetings with various branches of the Somali National Army to follow up on key development initiatives and ensure effective implementation of agreed-upon military cooperation frameworks.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the SNA Commander expressed his appreciation to Admiral Mustafa Kaya and his delegation for their visit and for Türkiye’s continued support to Somalia’s security sector reform efforts. He wished the delegation a successful visit and reaffirmed Somalia’s commitment to strengthening its long-standing partnership with Türkiye in defense and security matters.
The visit underscores the growing strategic military ties between the two nations and their shared commitment to promoting stability, maritime security, and long-term peace in Somalia and the wider region.