Somalia, Pakistan sign agreement to strengthen defense and security cooperation
The agreement was signed in Islamabad, during an official visit by Somali Defense Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, who is leading a delegation from the federal government of Somalia.
On the Pakistani side, the agreement was signed by Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif. According to the agreement, the two countries will cooperate in counter-terrorism, military training, exchange of military expertise, development of defense capabilities and strengthening security cooperation, to support peace and stability in Somalia and the wider region.
During the visit, the Somali delegation also held meetings with Pakistan Navy Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf and Pakistan Air Force Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu, where they discussed maritime security, defense cooperation and military capability building.
Pakistani officials have reiterated their commitment to strengthening their defense ties with Somalia, while Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi praised Pakistan’s role in regional maritime security and its progress in air power.
The agreement comes as Somalia accelerates its plans to strengthen its national security capabilities, as it prepares for a new era of national security, while the Pakistani government is expanding its defense cooperation with countries in the Islamic world.
On the other hand, the Turkish government has been waging ,a military support and provision of training and equipping the Somali national Army in Somalia since 2016
Turkish government concluded a military training in Somalia with graduation ceremony held in Mogadishu
The Turkish government has trained a full-fledged division of Somali National Army personnel, who have received high-level training in the country.
The closing ceremony of the training of these new troops trained for Somalia was attended by the Commander of the Somali National Army Land Forces, Brigadier General Sahal Abdullahi Omar (Khalid) and the Commander of the Turkish Army Land Forces, General Metin Tokel, with the trained force being the 21st Battalion, 1st Division of the Gorgor Commandos of the Somali National Army Land Forces.
This division will be the first complete unit of the Gorgor Commandos, which was trained at one time and place, and is described as a historic and successful step for Somalia.
Also, this step is aimed at accelerating the construction of the Somali National Army, so that it can fulfill its national responsibilities with full power and coordination.
The graduation of this force comes at a time when the Somali National Army is currently conducting intensive preparations for large-scale operations against terrorism, to cleanse the country of Khawarij groups.
Also, new forces are joining the ranks of the Somali National Army, and are expected to be part of efforts to strengthen the security and defense of the country.
More than a decade the Turkish government has been providing humanitarian assistance, military training, reconstruction projects and oil and gas exploration and exploitations programs in Somalia. Somalia is threatened by internal conflicts, secessionism, terrorism, piracy and excessive foreign and military interventions since the disintegration of the Somali central government led by the Military in 1991
Written by: Omar Ahmed Malin