DOHA, Qatar – Somalia and Qatar have signed a defence cooperation agreement as Mogadishu seeks to strengthen its armed forces and tackle ongoing security threats, Arlaadi Media reports.
The agreement, inked on Monday in Doha, was signed by Somalia’s Defence Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi and Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs, Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan Al Thani, according to a statement from the Somali government.
The pact includes military training, exchange of expertise, development of defence capabilities, and wider security cooperation. Both countries said the agreement aims to support regional stability.
Why the deal matters
Somalia has been rebuilding its security institutions while fighting the militant group al-Shabaab, which continues to carry out attacks across the country.
The agreement also comes at a time when Somalia is preparing for the gradual withdrawal of African Union peacekeepers who have been deployed for more than a decade.
The announcement also follows heightened diplomatic tensions in the region linked to Somaliland, a self-declared state in northern Somalia.
In a move that angered Mogadishu, Israel became the first country to formally recognise Somaliland’s independence, a decision Somalia has described as a violation of its territorial integrity.
A Region in Flux
The recognition has also contributed to a sharp deterioration in relations between Somalia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Somalia’s federal government has moved to downgrade relations with the UAE and cancel security and defence agreements, including those linked to strategic ports such as Berbera, Bosaso and Kismayo. The government has accused the UAE of violating Somali sovereignty.
The UAE has been a major investor in Somali ports and infrastructure, particularly in Somaliland’s Berbera port. The Somali government has suggested that the UAE may have played a role in Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, although the UAE has denied such claims.
It remains unclear how the new agreement with Qatar will affect Somalia’s wider diplomatic relations in the region.
Analysts say the move could strengthen Mogadishu’s military capabilities, but it may also deepen regional divides over Somaliland and external influence.
