By Abdullahi Salad - Reporter
Somalia, 16 December 2025 — The Commander of Turkey’s TURKSOM Military Training Academy, Brigadier General Sabahattin Kalkan, visited the city of Baidoa, where he held talks with the President of Somalia’s South West State, Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen, on training and capacity-building programmes for Somali security forces operating in the state.
The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation in military training and enhancing the capabilities of Somali forces, alongside supporting professional development programmes and institutional capacity building aimed at improving operational performance and reinforcing security stability.
The two sides also discussed ways to expand security cooperation between Somalia and Turkey, particularly in efforts to combat illegal armed groups, stressing the importance of specialised training and modern military skills in addressing security threats.
The Baidoa talks praised Turkey’s role in rebuilding Somalia’s security institutions, developing military leadership, and promoting professionalism within the armed forces—efforts described as vital for consolidating security and maintaining peace across the country.
More from Somalia
For his part, South West State President Abdiaziz Laftagareen commended Turkey’s continued support for Somalia, underscoring the importance of a sustainable partnership based on training, trust, and close cooperation to ensure lasting security and support the development of the South West State.
Turkey is among Somalia’s key international partners in supporting the reconstruction and professionalisation of the Somali Armed Forces, having trained thousands of Somali soldiers in recent years. The Mogadishu-based TURKSOM Academy has also trained hundreds of Somali officers in various military and security disciplines.