Mogadishu, February 11, 2026 – The Commander of the Somali National Army (SNA), Major General Ibrahim Mohamed Mahmoud, has held separate high-level meetings with Turkish and United States military officials to strengthen security cooperation and enhance Somalia’s defense capabilities.
At the SNA General Headquarters in Mogadishu, Major General Ibrahim welcomed the Deputy Commander of the Turkish Naval Forces, Admiral Mustafa Kaya, and his delegation. The visit highlighted expanding defense cooperation between Somalia and Türkiye, particularly in military capacity building, maritime security, and institutional development of the armed forces.
During the meeting, the SNA Commander emphasized Somalia’s priority to rebuild, strengthen, and modernize the Somali Navy and Coast Guard, citing the country’s long coastline and the need to protect territorial waters from piracy, illegal fishing, smuggling, and terrorism. Discussions focused on joint training, technical assistance, strategic planning, and the development of specialized and elite naval units. Both sides also reviewed ongoing cooperation programs and explored ways to expand operational readiness and professional military standards.
The Turkish delegation is expected to hold additional meetings with various branches of the Somali armed forces to follow up on key defense initiatives and ensure the effective implementation of agreed cooperation frameworks. Major General Ibrahim expressed appreciation for Türkiye’s continued support to Somalia’s security sector reform efforts and reaffirmed Somalia’s commitment to strengthening bilateral defense ties.
On the same day, Major General Ibrahim also met with the United States defense attaché to Somalia, Colonel Wills, in Mogadishu. Their discussions centered on enhancing security cooperation and intensifying operations against the Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab group.
Both sides underscored the importance of expanding intelligence sharing, increasing technical support, and deepening strategic collaboration to improve the operational capacity of the Somali National Army. The United States remains a key security partner, providing training, equipment, and air support to assist Somalia in counterterrorism operations.
General Ibrahim thanked the United States for its continued backing and reaffirmed Somalia’s commitment to strengthening national security and combating militant groups.
