By Hanad Abdi - Reporter
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MOGADISHU, 30 October 2026 — The Somali capital hosted a ceremony on Thursday commemorating the 103rd anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Türkiye, highlighting the longstanding diplomatic relationship and growing cooperation between the two countries.
The celebration, held at the Turkish Embassy in Mogadishu, formed part of Türkiye’s annual Republic Day commemorations on 29 October, marking the establishment of the Turkish Republic in 1923.
Somalia’s Upper House Speaker, Abdi Hashi Abdullahi, attended the event and extended congratulations to the Turkish government and people, describing relations between the two nations as founded on friendship, mutual respect and solidarity.
Speaking at the ceremony, Abdullahi recalled Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s historic visit to Mogadishu in 2011, when Somalia was facing a devastating famine and serious security challenges.
“President Erdoğan came to Somalia in 2011, at a time when people were saying Somalia was a dangerous and insecure place. Since then, the Turkish government has stood by us,” Abdullahi said.
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The Senate Speaker commended Türkiye’s role in Somalia’s reconstruction, institutional development and infrastructure projects, saying the partnership had delivered meaningful improvements to public services and local communities.
Türkiye is among Somalia’s closest international partners, with relations expanding considerably following Erdoğan’s 2011 visit, which helped accelerate Turkish humanitarian assistance and reconstruction efforts.
Over the past decade, Ankara has supported healthcare, education, infrastructure and security programmes in Somalia, including military training and capacity-building initiatives.
The partnership has expanded further through agreements covering defence, maritime security and energy exploration.
The commemoration took place against the backdrop of continued efforts by both governments to strengthen political, economic and security ties, building on more than a decade of close diplomatic engagement.