Turkey makes a strong statement with massive Somalia embassy

On June 3, Somalia received a game changing delegation from Turkey.

The plane carrying President Recep Tayip Erdogan together with his wife, Emine, and a large delegation landed at the city’s seafront airport.

The dignitaries were received by a galaxy of Somali officials, led by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud. The occasion was akin to a homecoming of long-lost nationals.

Besides President Mohamoud, those who lined up to shake the hands of Turkish delegation included the Speaker of the Federal Parliament, Mr Mohamed Osman Jawari, the Prime Minister, Mr Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke, Cabinet ministers and MPs.

Even regional leaders from Puntland, Jubaland, Southwest and Galmudug states lined up to welcome President Erdogan and his delegation.

“Kudos and keep the good spirit,” chanted the people lining up along the road and waving both the Somali and the Turkish flags.
The story of the good fortunes was taking another turn.

Amid tight security by the Somali law enforcers and the peacekeepers serving with the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) and a unit of Turkish law enforcers, the Turkish delegation was driven to Mogadishu’ northern Abdulaziz District where President Erdogan and his Somali counterpart jointly opened a gigantic premise meant to house the Turkish Embassy in Mogadishu.

The new facility, which overlooks the popular Lido Beach, is the largest Turkish embassy in the world. It’s sheer size is a statement about the growing relations between Somalia and Turkey.

Just after cutting the ribbon to declare the embassy building open, President Erdogan promised that Turkey would establish an army training camp in Somalia.

“I may come back to open the camp,” he hinted.

Subsequently, the two leaders and their delegations held talks, culminating in their two governments signing a series of agreements. Major accords included taxation, livestock, investment promotion and bonds between the Somali National News Agency (Sonna) and the Turkish News Agency (Anadol).

Similar agreements were signed for the training for Somali Police Force, educational collaboration, health, energy and minerals. Other areas earmarked for bilateral cooperation between Turkey and Somalia was human resource development and the joint creation of employment opportunities.

Ministers from both sides, including Somalia’s Foreign minister Abdisalam Hadliye Omar and his Turkish counterpart Mevlüt Çavuþoðlu, signed for both governments.

AMICABLE RELATIONS

The occasion offered President Erdogan an opportunity to underscore the amicable relations between Turkey and Somalia, asserting that such bonds would be strengthened.

“Turkey is going to build a 10km road in Mogadishu, extending the network built by Turkish agencies,” remarked President Erdogan. “Educational and other vital projects will also be implemented,” he added.

The Turkish leader disclosed that new premises to house the Somalia Federal Parliament would be built in Mogadishu within two years.

“Its plan has been completed and it will be a special gift to the Somali people,” he affirmed.
The visit was President Erdogan’s third to Mogadishu.”

“I can sense that Somalia has advanced and a lot has been done. Just to mention a few, we opened in 2015 the educational hospital and today we have presided over the embassy building, complete with its amenities,” President Erdogan added.

He promised that within the fasting month of Ramadhan, Turkey would send a ship with humanitarian aid to the victims of drought in northern Somalia, especially Puntland and Somaliland.

President Erdogan underlined that Turkey and its agencies were not operating in Somalia with blind eyes, stressing that they have a good understanding about the mutual benefits.

“Many people expected that we would leave Somalia in a short time. That has not happened. Instead, our continued presence has boosted the confidence of this nation,” he said.

He indicated that the stakes were too high for Turkey to exit Somalia, expressing his awareness about the elections later this year.

President Erdogan wished the nation a smooth electoral process, pointing out that his delegation came to Mogadishu despite a deadly attack on a hotel in Mogadishu, claimed by the jihadist group Al-Shabaab.

“We have been saddened by the terrorist attack in Mogadishu that affected tens of people. But, it did not thwart our visit to this city.”
President Erdogan was delighted that what was envisioned five years earlier, was being achieved.

On the humanitarian side, Turkey continues to provide support to the people in need and the organisations caring for them, in an initiative started during President Erdogan’s first tour to Mogadishu in August 2011.