MOGADISHU, Somalia — The Turkish Embassy in Mogadishu has paid tribute to members of Türkiye’s Police Special Operations Presidency who served in Somalia, commending their dedication to security cooperation and their role in training Somali special police units.
In a statement, the embassy said the officers had carried out their duties with dedication, courage and self-sacrifice. Their work included training members of the Somali Police Force’s Haramcad Special Police Operations units and providing support to the embassy.
The embassy wished the departing personnel success in their future careers, describing them as a team that holds a special place in its hearts.
The statement did not specify how many officers were leaving Somalia or provide details about the duration of their deployment.
Türkiye Continues Training Somali Police
The farewell comes as Türkiye continues to expand its security cooperation with Somalia, particularly in developing the capabilities of specialized police units.
On Oct. 16, local media outlet Inside Somalia reported that Türkiye had resumed specialized training for the Haramcad unit, with a new group of Somali officers travelling from Mogadishu to Türkiye for instruction at Turkish Police Special Operations facilities.
Days later, on Oct. 25, a Turkish delegation led by Ambassador Ferhat Alkan visited Somali Police Force headquarters and met with Police Commissioner Brig. Gen. Asad Osman Abdullahi. The discussions reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to training and equipping the Haramcad unit, according to a report by FTL Somalia.
These developments suggest that the departure of one group of Turkish personnel is taking place alongside continued training activities and institutional cooperation between the two countries. However, the embassy has not said whether the departing officers will be replaced or whether their departure will affect existing training programmes.
More Than 1,000 Somali Police Personnel Trained
Türkiye’s contribution to Somalia’s security sector extends beyond individual training missions.
In September, Turkish Ambassador Alper Aktaş said Türkiye had trained more than 1,000 specialized personnel within the Somali Police Force, including members of the Haramcad units. He also said Türkiye had increased air support for counterterrorism operations at the request of Somali authorities.
The training programmes are intended to strengthen professional skills and improve the ability of Somali police officers to respond to security threats, conduct specialized operations and protect communities.
Türkiye has also maintained a broader military training partnership with Somalia through its TURKSOM facility in Mogadishu, which supports the development of Somali military personnel.
A Broader Security Partnership
Security cooperation has become a central component of relations between Mogadishu and Ankara, alongside diplomatic, economic and development ties.
In July, Türkiye’s parliament approved a two-year extension of the Turkish armed forces’ deployment in Somalia, effective from July 27, 2026. The extension allows Turkish military personnel to continue supporting Somalia’s security and stability under existing cooperation arrangements.
For Somalia, partnerships with Türkiye and other international allies remain important as its security institutions develop the capacity to assume greater responsibility for national security.
The Turkish Embassy’s farewell message recognizes the contribution of the departing police officers, while recent engagements between Turkish and Somali officials indicate that cooperation on police training and security capacity-building is continuing.
Whether the latest personnel departure will lead to changes in the composition of Türkiye’s police training team in Somalia remains unclear.
