As the country facing a serious security threat to the level of an existential threat to its existence as unified a sovereign state in the Horn of Africa. Somalia eyes its old friend to extend both military and diplomatic support regarding the emerging situation of the successionist administration of the so-called “Somaliland” in which Isreal provided both diplomatic recognition and military support. The unlawful and pre-mature recognition of Somaliland by Israeli government is regarded as a blatant aggression on Somali territorial integrity and statehood by the Federal government of Somalia.
Somalia has been in political instability and suffered excessive political and military interventions since the fall of the mighty Somali national government led by the President Siyad Barre in the 1991. Followed the disintegration of the Somali National Army (SNA) and civil wars. As result of these conditions Somali government could not control its entire territories, land, water and airspace.
Hence, Somalia become a hunting ground for foreign government’s interventions and terrorist attacks, who have been killing people and abusing the country’s sovereignty and looting the natural resources of Somalia as well. Those foreign actors also destroyed Somali’s maritime environment by dumbing industrial waste etc.
Somalia’s State Minister for Defence, Omar Ali Abdi, has held talks with Russia’s Deputy Minister of Defence, Vasily Osmakov, during an official visit to Moscow, as the two countries explored ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the defence sector.
According to Somalia’s Ministry of Defence, the discussions centred on matters of mutual interest, with a particular focus on expanding defence collaboration between the Federal Republic of Somalia and the Russian Federation.
Both officials underscored the importance of maintaining constructive dialogue and reaffirmed their commitment to deepening defence relations between their countries. The meeting also examined potential avenues for future cooperation aimed at supporting security and institutional development.
The talks come as Somalia continues to diversify its international partnerships in an effort to strengthen its security sector, enhance national defence capabilities and support ongoing operations against militant groups.
Somalia has been increasingly seeking an international cooperation to modernize its armed forces and improve its capacity to address security challenges, including the threat posed by the armed group al-Shabab.
Russia has also provided humanitarian assistance to Somalia in recent years, contributing to relief efforts for communities affected by recurring droughts and other humanitarian crises.
The meeting is the latest sign of growing engagement between Mogadishu and Moscow, as both governments seek to expand cooperation across areas of shared interest.
Moscow has been a historically Somalia’s old ally during the liberation struggle against the colonialism and during independent era. Moscow provided Somalia enormous military and political support under the Soviet Union. Even though Somalia shifted its position to the West during the cold war. The Soviet Russia had contributed Somali’s industry and trained so many civil workers such as doctors, engineers and many more.
Today, Somalia is under constant threat of successionist ambitions, terrorists as well as excessive foreign military interventions and therefore, Somalia seeks a reliable and robust ally to tackle all these challenges. On the other, the post-Soviet Russia is a pragmatic and stable country will plenty of experience in relations to security and military collaboration. Somalia needs quick and urgent military equipment and training to control its territories and restore law and order in the country effectively.
Written: Omar Ahmed Malin