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Mogadishu, 5 November 2026 Somalia's defence minister and a senior Turkish commander discussed alleged foreign interference in support of terrorist groups, the defence ministry said Wednesday.
Defence Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi met in Mogadishu with Gen. Sabahattin Kılınç, commander of the International Joint Strategic Command at the General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces.
The meeting focused on strengthening strategic defence and security cooperation, the security situation in the Horn of Africa, the fight against terrorism and foreign interference in support of terrorist groups, according to the ministry statement. The statement did not name the countries or foreign parties allegedly behind the interference.
Fiqi praised Turkey's support for Somalia's counterterrorism efforts.
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Turkey opened the TURKSOM military training base in Mogadishu in 2017, where thousands of Somali soldiers have been trained. Turkey also trains Somalia's elite Gorgor troops, and Turkish drones provide air support to Somali forces fighting al-Shabaab.
Under a 10-year defence agreement signed in 2024, Turkey is tasked with helping Somalia protect its territorial waters and build a navy. Turkey's parliament in July extended the deployment of Turkish troops in Somalia until July 2028.
The meeting was also attended by the defence ministry's Permanent Secretary Yusuf Ali Mohamed, Maj. Gen. Mohamed Ali Barise, assistant to the chief of the Somali National Army, and Maj. Gen. Sabahattin Kalkan, commander of the TURKSOM military training school.