President Hassan Sheikh Receives Djibouti's Army Chief to Bolster Security Cooperation

Mogadishu, (SONNA) – The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, H.E. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Wednesday received the Commander of Djibouti’s Armed Forces, General Zakaria Sheikh Ibrahim, and a delegation of senior military officials at the presidential palace in Mogadishu.

The visit comes as General Ibrahim and his delegation are in the Somali capital to participate in the command conference of troop-contributing countries to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). The talks focused on strengthening security coordination, enhancing operational interoperability, and accelerating joint efforts to consolidate peace and stability across Somalia.

Discussions during the reception reaffirmed the strong fraternal ties and defense cooperation between the two neighboring nations. President Mohamud expressed gratitude to the government and people of Djibouti for their "prominent role" in supporting Somalia's security sector, including counterterrorism operations and the rebuilding of Somali security institutions.

Djibouti is a key contributor to AUSSOM, the AU-led peace support mission that replaced ATMIS in January 2024, with troops operating primarily in southern Somalia.

Why it matters: The reception highlights ongoing regional military collaboration as Somali forces prepare to assume full security responsibility from the African Union mission, with Djibouti remaining a vital strategic partner in the Horn of Africa's counterterrorism efforts.