Friday 17 april 2026 {HMC} Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Thursday in Istanbul on Thursday, reaffirming expanding cooperation in energy, trade and security as the two countries deepen their strategic partnership.
The meeting was held at the Dolmabahce Presidential Office, according to a statement from Türkiye’s Communications Directorate.
Erdogan said Ankara would continue taking steps to strengthen relations with Somalia across multiple sectors, particularly trade and energy. He described the launch of operations by Türkiye’s deep-sea drilling vessel Cagri Bey off Somalia’s coast as a symbol of growing bilateral cooperation.
The vessel recently began offshore drilling under a 2024 energy agreement between the two countries, marking Türkiye’s first overseas deep-water exploration project.
Erdogan also reiterated Türkiye’s support for Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He said Ankara would continue backing diplomatic efforts to fully resolve tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia, which have strained regional relations in recent months.
President Mohamud thanked Türkiye for its longstanding support in Somalia’s state-building efforts, including reconstruction, social services and security sector development.
The two leaders emphasized the importance of strengthening their strategic partnership and welcomed the start of Somalia’s offshore oil exploration campaign, describing it as a milestone in economic cooperation.
Senior Turkish officials attended the meeting, including Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar, National Intelligence Organization chief Ibrahim Kalin, Communications Director Burhanettin Duran, foreign policy and security adviser Akif Cagatay Kilic, and senior adviser Zafer Cubukcu.
Türkiye has emerged as one of Somalia’s closest international partners over the past decade, investing in infrastructure, security training and humanitarian assistance while expanding economic and diplomatic engagement in the Horn of Africa.
Source Hiiraan Online
