Makkah, (SONNA) – The Federal Government of Somalia’s Minister of Endorsements and Islamic Affairs, Sheikh Mukhtar Robow Ali, held a significant meeting in the holy city of Makkah with Prof. Dr. Ali Erbaş, President of the Directorate of Religious Affairs of Türkiye (Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığı), a position he has held since September 17, 2017.
During the meeting, Minister Robow conveyed his deep appreciation to the government and people of Türkiye for their longstanding and unconditional support to Somalia. He highlighted Türkiye’s critical contributions in key sectors such as the economy, education, defense, and military cooperation, especially since 2011 when Somalia was struck by a severe drought that affected millions of people and livestock.
The meeting, which took place at the Turkish Hajj Affairs Office in Makkah, focused on enhancing cooperation between Somalia’s Ministry of Endorsements and Islamic Affairs and Türkiye’s Directorate of Religious Affairs. Discussions included support for the establishment of Somalia’s Endowment Authority, the development of a National Zakat Fund Registry, and comprehensive training programs for ministry staff and religious scholars engaged in institution-building efforts.
These initiatives form part of the Federal Government of Somalia’s five-year national development agenda, which aims to strengthen governance and institutional capacity in the religious sector.
Also in attendance was the Ambassador of Türkiye to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, underscoring the diplomatic importance of the meeting and the growing ties between the two brotherly nations.
