New Turkish Ambassador Begins Mission in Somalia Meeting with Somali Youth

Mogadishu, (SONNA) — The newly appointed Turkish Ambassador to Somalia, Ferhat Alkan, began his mission in Mogadishu with an informal meeting with Somali youth, including former students who studied in Türkiye.

The Ambassador met the youth at Beydan Coffee, a Mogadishu café known for Turkish-style coffee and founded by Somali young people who previously studied in Türkiye. He said the meeting was an opportunity to hear their views and exchange ideas about Somalia and the future of Türkiye–Somalia relations.

Alkan said the two countries’ primary goal is to strengthen relations between their “friendly and brotherly peoples” based on mutual respect, trust and shared interests, through friendship and sincerity.

He also said the views and recommendations of Turkish citizens and Somali friends would be valuable as the two countries continue their “joint journey.”

The Ambassador said the Somali youth he met expressed satisfaction with what they described as improvements in security and peace in Mogadishu and surrounding areas.

Alkan begins his tenure as Türkiye and Somalia mark the 60th anniversary of their diplomatic relations and the 15th anniversary of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s historic visit to Somalia in 2011, when he was Prime Minister.

The visit marked a significant expansion in bilateral relations, followed by increased cooperation in humanitarian assistance, infrastructure, health, education, security and development, as well as defence, energy and the blue economy.

Alkan succeeds Aper Aktaş, who recently completed his tenure as Türkiye’s Ambassador to Somalia. He said the doors of the Turkish Embassy would always remain open to Somali citizens and friends of Türkiye.

Source: TRT Afrika