The Presidency's Head of Communications, Burhanettin Duran, sent a video message to the panel titled “A New Era in Türkiye-Somalia Relations: Trust, Cooperation, Strategic Partnership", held in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.
In his message, Head of Communications Duran stressed that relations between Türkiye and Somalia are grounded in a long-standing history. Emphasising that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s historic visit to Mogadishu in 2011 opened a new chapter in relations between the two countries, Head of Communications Duran said, "The hand of friendship that Türkiye extended to Somalia through this visit laid the foundation for the comprehensive strategic partnership we enjoy today. It is our profound pleasure that this process has evolved into a holistic partnership encompassing development, security, economic cooperation, and institutional capacity-building. The year 2026 makes our strategic partnership all the more meaningful, as it marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. As emphasised by our President, Türkiye–Somalia relations are the product of a common, future-oriented vision that transcends shifting conjunctural constraints."
Underscoring that Türkiye’s foreign policy paradigm toward the African continent diverges radically from the condescending attitudes of powers with a colonial past, Head of Communications Duran continued as follows:
"We reject interpreting the continent’s future through Western-centred Orientalist perspectives. We uphold the principle of 'African solutions to African problems' as a guiding ethical principle in both theory and practice. Building on this perspective, Türkiye–Somalia relations focus on enhancing long-term institutional capacity over short-term fixes, thereby generating sustainable solutions. In line with this approach, the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), the Turkish Red Crescent, the Maarif Foundation, the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD), the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB), and numerous NGOs from Türkiye continue their efforts in their respective fields. Moreover, thousands of Somali students pursue higher education in Türkiye, serving as important actors in carrying the longstanding ties between our countries and peoples into the present day."
"Ankara Declaration stands as a strong testament to Türkiye’s capacity for mediation"
Stating that the Horn of Africa currently faces multidimensional and complex challenges, Head of Communications Duran said, “Israel’s attempts to establish spheres of influence in the region through Somaliland and to open new fronts of instability violate the fundamental principles of international law and directly threaten Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Türkiye stands with its brotherly nation, Somalia, in the face of these threats. Our President has unequivocally reaffirmed Türkiye’s support for Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity under all circumstances. For Türkiye, Somalia’s territorial integrity, political unity, and sovereignty constitute a matter of principle that can never be subject to any geopolitical bargaining. In this regard, the Ankara Declaration stands as a strong testament to Türkiye’s support for regional peace and its capacity for mediation."
Duran stated that Türkiye’s stance in favour of regional peace, stability, and prosperity disturbs certain circles that benefit from the continuation of the order of exploitation, saying, “The recent increase in systematic disinformation campaigns in international media and digital platforms is an expression of this unease. Our relations, founded on mutual trust, brotherhood, and transparency, will continue to render such divisive attempts futile, as has been the case to date."
"Türkiye and Somalia are producing together and strengthening together"
Stating that Türkiye views relations with Somalia through a broad perspective, encompassing both strengthening state capacity and building shared prosperity, Head of Communications Duran noted the following:
“The TURKSOM Military Training Base, our defence and maritime security agreements, the Oruç Reis, which conducts seismic surveys in Somali waters, and our Çağrı Bey vessel, which carries out deep-sea drilling operations, have, in the words of our President, become powerful symbols of cooperation between the two countries. In addition, the spaceport project and the institutionalised fisheries agreements are initiatives bolstering Somalia’s economic capacity and technological independence. Türkiye and Somalia are producing together and strengthening together. In this context, I believe this panel, organised by the Directorate of Communications of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye, will contribute to further strengthening the relations between the two countries in line with our shared vision of cooperation."