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Somali President Hasan Sheikh Mohamud praised Türkiye’s support for Somalia, saying Ankara has focused on building the country’s own capabilities rather than providing short-term aid.
Speaking at the Presidential Palace during an event marking the 15th anniversary of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s 2011 visit to Somalia, Mohamud said the trip opened a new era in bilateral relations.
“Türkiye’s support for Somalia was not about giving us fish, but teaching us how to fish,” he said.
Mohamud said relations between the two countries go back many years, but Erdogan’s visit during Somalia’s severe humanitarian crisis in 2011 changed the international approach to supporting the country.
Erdogan, who was prime minister at the time, traveled with his family, ministers, and lawmakers. Mohamud remembered that the delegation did not just meet with officials, noting that Erdogan even stopped his car to speak with children playing by the road
Mohamud said Erdogan later ordered the construction of schools and hospitals, adding that facilities built by Türkiye became examples for Somalia and the wider region.
He also recalled Erdogan’s determination to visit refugee camps despite security warnings.
According to Mohamud, Erdogan responded: “Take me there. I will not die on a day other than the day I am meant to die.”
Erdogan and first lady Emine Erdogan visited the camps and met children there. Mohamud said the visit not only brought humanitarian assistance but also gave hope and morale to people facing despair.
Türkiye has also supported Somali human development by helping young people pursue secondary and higher education in Türkiye.
Mohamud said Turkish support has expanded to natural resources, noting that seismic exploration and drilling vessels have arrived in Somalia and Somali personnel are being trained for work in the oil sector.
He said Türkiye’s security assistance has also strengthened Somalia’s fight against al-Shabaab, which the country has battled since 2007.
African Union forces initially fought alongside Somali troops and helped push al-Shabaab out of Mogadishu, while Turkish training and equipment have more recently helped Somali security forces make significant gains.
“Türkiye both trains our soldiers and provides the equipment they need,” Mohamud said. “This has changed many things both for our security and for our fight against the terrorist organization al-Shabaab.”
He said Türkiye could have simply provided the millions of dollars invested in Somalia, but that would have produced only temporary benefits.
“They could have given us the money and we would have spent it, and tomorrow we would need help again,” he said, adding that training Somali personnel represented a more sustainable approach.
Mohamud said Türkiye-Somalia ties have expanded from humanitarian aid to infrastructure, security and economic cooperation.
“Our relations are growing day by day. Yesterday it was aid, then infrastructure and security, then the economy. Tomorrow it will be an even stronger partnership,” he said.
“Thanks to the whole world, but special thanks to Türkiye.”
He stressed that the relationship goes beyond governments, saying the Somali people also feel gratitude toward Türkiye and the Turkish public.
Mohamud pointed to young Somalis who speak Turkish and know Turkish culture as evidence of stronger people-to-people ties.
He said Somali youth interested in producing Turkish-language discussion programs had visited him and planned to broadcast the programs in Türkiye to express their thanks to the Turkish people.
“For the Somali people and the Turkish people to understand each other and come closer together is something historically very important for us,” Mohamud said.
He added that Somalia hoped other countries would adopt an approach similar to Türkiye’s.
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