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ANTALYA, Turkey, November 14 2026 Somalia and Turkey have signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen cooperation on social services and family protection policies, Somalia’s Ministry of Family and Human Rights Development said on Friday.
The agreement was signed in Antalya by Somalia’s Minister of Family and Human Rights Development, Khadija Mohamed Al-Makhzoumi, and Turkey’s Minister of Family and Social Services, Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, on the sidelines of the COP31 climate summit, the ministry said.
It covers the exchange of knowledge and experience on social services and family protection, safeguarding the rights of women and children, preventing violence against women, protecting children from online risks, and improving health, education, care and rehabilitation services for people with disabilities and the elderly, according to the ministry.
The two sides also agreed to cooperate on training, conferences, seminars and the exchange of experts.
Al-Makhzoumi said the agreement was important for developing social services in Somalia and stressed her ministry’s commitment to drawing on the experience of partner countries, particularly Turkey.
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Separately, she told a COP31 side event that climate finance must reach vulnerable communities, particularly women and families in rural areas, citing the impact of recurring droughts and floods on Somali families.
She also called for women to be included in shaping climate policy and for their role in adapting to climate change to be recognised, the ministry said.
Turkey has become one of Somalia’s closest partners since President Tayyip Erdoğan visited Mogadishu during the 2011 famine, providing humanitarian and development aid and training Somali forces under a defence agreement signed in 2024.