Erdoğan signs strategic cooperation agreements with his Somali counterpart

Turkey and Somalia have taken the two nations’ relations and strategic co-operations to new heights by signing a number of key agreements from military, economic, taxation, boosting of investing and reconstruction of key government installations.

The agreements were signed on Friday (3 June 2016) during a visit to Mogadishu by Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, key  ally and close partner of Somalia. Mr Erdoğan inaugurated new Turkish embassy in Mogadishu-the largest in the world as well as a maternity Hospital in Mogadishu.

After signing the agreements, Turkish president pledged that Turkey will continue its support to the nascent institutions of Somalia until the country is able to stand on its feet. Turkey will also rebuild the Somali parliament premises as well as some vital roads in Mogadishu.

The Turkish model of humanitarian diplomacy has been highly praised compared to humanitarian interventions in Somalia over the years despite the billions of dollars that have been poured in Somalia which are less visible.

This is the third time that president Erdoğan is coming to Somalia since 2011 when he was a prime minister and defied the odds as Mogadishu was less stable and extremely dangerous.

His latest visit came one day after suicide car bomb claimed by Alshabab  militants left thirty people dead in Mogadishu.