Somali Deputy Prime Minister discusses bilateral relations at OIC summit

Somali Deputy Prime Minister Salah Jama met with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on the sidelines of the 15th Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit in Banjul, Gambia, on Saturday. Their talks focused on strengthening ties between the two nations, according to Somali state media.

“They discussed a range of topics, including further strengthening the historical relations between the two countries, current regional issues, and issues concerning Muslim countries,” state-owned media SNTV reported.

Jama traveled to The Gambia to represent Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud at the summit, themed “Enhancing Unity and Solidarity Through Dialogue for Sustainable Development.” The meeting addressed global issues and other matters related to the Islamic world, notably the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza, which has claimed the lives of over 34,000 innocent Palestinian civilians.

Separately, the Deputy Prime Minister also held talks with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov. Their discussions focused on strengthening bilateral relations, with a particular emphasis on climate change and the upcoming COP29 that Azerbaijan will host, according to SNTV reporting.

Somalia and Turkey enjoy a close and multifaceted relationship, encompassing cooperation in military, healthcare, and education. Turkey recently signed a 10-year defense and cooperation agreement with Somalia to train the Somali navy and share marine resources from Somalia’s rich coastline.