Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia on Monday at the Dolmabahçe Presidential Office in Istanbul, as part of an official visit aimed at further strengthening the long-standing strategic partnership between the two countries.

President Erdoğan welcomed his Somali counterpart with an official ceremony at the Dolmabahçe complex, reflecting the close diplomatic ties and mutual respect shared by Ankara and Mogadishu. Following the ceremony, the two leaders held a closed-door bilateral meeting.

According to diplomatic sources, the talks focused on deepening cooperation in key areas including security, defense, economic development, humanitarian assistance, and reconstruction efforts in Somalia. Regional developments in the Horn of Africa, counterterrorism cooperation, maritime security, and Türkiye’s continued support for Somalia’s state-building process were also discussed.

President Erdoğan reiterated Türkiye’s unwavering support for Somalia’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, emphasizing Ankara’s commitment to standing alongside the Somali people in their struggle against terrorism and instability. He highlighted Türkiye’s role in infrastructure projects, health services, education, and humanitarian aid, noting that Turkish-backed initiatives have played a significant role in Somalia’s recovery over the past decade.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, for his part, expressed gratitude for Türkiye’s consistent political, economic, and humanitarian support, describing Ankara as one of Somalia’s most reliable partners. He praised Türkiye’s contributions to capacity-building in Somali institutions and its assistance in strengthening the country’s security forces.

The meeting also reportedly addressed ongoing and future joint projects, with both leaders agreeing to enhance bilateral trade and investment ties, and to expand cooperation in energy, ports, and transportation. Officials indicated that follow-up mechanisms would be activated to ensure the swift implementation of agreements reached during the visit.

The Erdoğan–Mohamud meeting comes amid growing regional challenges in the Horn of Africa and underscores Türkiye’s continued engagement with Muslim-majority countries, particularly in Africa, through a policy combining diplomacy, development, and solidarity. (ILKHA)