MOGADISHU (SONNA) – The Minister of Defense of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, received the newly appointed Italian Defence Attaché to Somalia, Navy Captain Antonino Mazzocca, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Mogadishu on Saturday. The meeting served as a formal introduction for Captain Mazzocca and provided a strategic platform to review the long-standing defense partnership between the two nations.
During the discussions, Minister Fiqi and Captain Mazzocca focused on several key strategies to bolster military cooperation. Central to the dialogue was the enhancement of the operational capabilities of the Somali National Armed Forces through expanded specialized training initiatives provided by Italian military experts. Furthermore, both parties explored increasing logistical and technical assistance to modernize Somali military infrastructure and ensure sustainable capacity building.
Italy remains a key partner in Somalia’s security sector reform, contributing significantly through bilateral agreements and the European Union Training Mission. Minister Fiqi emphasized the importance of this continued collaboration as Somalia works to fully assume its security responsibilities. The meeting concluded with a mutual commitment to deepen the strategic defense relationship, ensuring that future initiatives align with the priority needs of the Somali National Army.
