MOGADISHU (SONNA) — The Governor of Banadir and Mayor of Mogadishu, Dr. Hassan Mohamed Hussein (Mungab), joined forces with the Turkish Ambassador to Somalia, Alper Aktaş, on Friday morning to lead a high-profile sanitation campaign along the Lido Beach coastline. The joint environmental initiative served as the backdrop for a significant diplomatic announcement regarding the formal twinning of Mogadishu with the Turkish city of Konya.
The operation at Lido Beach saw the active participation of Banadir Regional Administration officials, a dedicated corps of youth volunteers, and local residents. The event was designed to highlight the importance of civic engagement in restoring the capital’s image. Mayor Mungab addressed the gathered volunteers, articulating the critical link between environmental hygiene and urban recovery. He stressed that maintaining the aesthetic appeal of the capital is a shared civic duty, urging all residents to assume responsibility for the sanitation of their neighborhoods and public service zones.
Ambassador Alper Aktaş utilized the occasion to reaffirm the Republic of Türkiye’s enduring commitment to Somalia’s reconstruction, with a specific focus on the development of Mogadishu. In a move to deepen institutional ties, the Ambassador disclosed a strategic plan to establish a sister-city relationship between Mogadishu and Konya, a major economic and industrial hub in Turkey.
This proposed partnership aims to facilitate a direct exchange of administrative expertise and foster development cooperation. By twinning the two cities, the Banadir Administration seeks to leverage Konya’s established experience in municipal management, urban planning, and public service delivery to accelerate the modernization of the Somali capital.
