Ankara (Anadolu Agency) – Halit Güşen — Mohamed Mursal Sheikh Abdirahman, Somalia’s Ambassador to Ankara, emphasized that Türkiye remains Somalia’s only hope. He also commented on the recent terrorist attack on the annex building of the Turkish Embassy in Mogadishu, stating that although Al-Shabab claimed responsibility, that alone is not sufficient. He called for cooperation with the Turkish government to fully identify those responsible for the attack.
Ambassador Abdirahman strongly condemned the attack and extended his condolences to the Turkish people. He noted that he traveled to Amasya to attend the funeral of Police Officer Sinan Yılmaz, who was martyred in the attack, and shared his deep sympathies with the officer’s family.
While an investigation into the incident is ongoing, Abdirahman remarked, “Al-Shabab claimed responsibility, but we believe this is not enough. We need close cooperation with the Turkish government to uncover the full truth behind the attack.” He acknowledged Somalia’s ongoing struggle over the past 20 years and admitted that the country’s institutions, including its security forces, remain too weak to independently carry out such investigations. He stressed that the attack on the Turkish mission did not reflect the will of the Somali people.
Abdirahman also highlighted that Al-Shabab has been significantly weakened by Somali security forces and noted that Türkiye and Somalia have established security cooperation, which will help improve the country’s stability as it continues to develop.
“Türkiye Came to Somalia for the Sake of Human Dignity”
Ambassador Abdirahman emphasized the importance of Türkiye’s humanitarian assistance to Somalia, stating that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to Somalia holds a special place in the hearts of Somalis. “Türkiye came to Somalia for the sake of human dignity,” he said.
He praised the long-term development projects led by TİKA and Turkish NGOs, stating they play a vital role in Somalia’s recovery and progress. On economic matters, Abdirahman noted that while Somalia possesses natural resources, the country is not yet in a position to fully utilize them. He added that they are in contact with Turkish organizations to develop this capacity.
Somalia–Somaliland Talks to Resume in Türkiye
Ambassador Abdirahman underlined the success of the ongoing Somalia–Somaliland dialogue facilitated by Türkiye. He announced that the next round of talks between the two sides will also be held in Türkiye three months from now.