Azerbaijan and Turkey’s trilateral cooperation mechanisms in the region could also include Somalia. Given Somalia’s strategic location on global trade routes, cooperation between the armies of Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Somalia in ensuring the security of its coastline could make a positive contribution.

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud made his first official visit to Azerbaijan from February 12 to 14, 2025, at the invitation of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. After one-on-one and delegation-level meetings between the two countries’ presidents, four important agreements were signed between the officials in the fields of public services, green energy, education, defense, and defense industry. After the signing ceremony, President Aliyev stated that Azerbaijan was ready to support Somalia’s development, especially by investing in infrastructure, port facilities, and agriculture. President Mohamud described this visit as the beginning of a strategic partnership between the two countries and expressed Somalia’s readiness to learn from Azerbaijan’s experiences.

What made this visit significant was Mohamud’s visit to institutions operating in the areas of cooperation with Azerbaijan, where he gained insight into their operational mechanisms. Mohamud visited Azerbaijan’s special forces, defense industry production centers, the ASAN Service Center, and the Sangachal Energy Terminal, the center of Azerbaijan’s oil and natural gas industry.

The preparation for this visit also demonstrated the importance both countries attach to their cooperation. On February 4-5, 2025, a meeting was held in Somalia between the foreign ministries of both countries, led by Azerbaijan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Yalçın Refiyev. The delegation also visited the Turkish Maarif Foundation’s representation in Somalia.

Azerbaijan-Somalia Relations

Diplomatic relations between the two countries began in 2004, and these relations continued with mutual support in international organizations until the Karabakh victory. According to Azerbaijan, Somalia’s support for Azerbaijan on the Karabakh issue during the establishment of the Contact Group at the 2016 Istanbul Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Summit was very important. Therefore, President Ilham Aliyev stated that during this visit, they supported Somalia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, as it too is struggling with separatist regions. The relationship between Azerbaijan and Somalia was further strengthened within the framework of the United Nations (UN) and the Non-Aligned Movement.

Bilateral relations, especially after Azerbaijan’s Karabakh victory, began to advance rapidly. On March 11, 2022, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with Somali Foreign Minister Abdisaid Muse Ali on the margins of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, during which the Somali Minister conveyed his congratulations on the restoration of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

Later, on July 26, 2024, the Somali Foreign Minister visited Azerbaijan. This visit, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, led to an agreement on deepening cooperation in foreign policy matters, including supporting Somalia’s proposals during its non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council in 2025-2026. The strengthening of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Somalia within the framework of the 29th Conference of the Parties to the Climate Change Convention (COP-29) was also decided.

In September 2024, an important development in defense and military cooperation took place between the two countries. Somali Defense Minister Abdulkadir Muhammed Nur attended the 5th Azerbaijan International Defense Exhibition (ADEX), where the delegations discussed military cooperation.

Azerbaijan-Turkey Cooperation Opportunities in Somalia

In October 2024, speaking to the Turkish press about regional cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkey, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan described the relationship as follows: “Azerbaijan and Turkey act like one state on regional issues, especially on sensitive matters.”

After Azerbaijan’s support for Turkey regarding Syria, it became clear that this was not just a political statement.

Moreover, Azerbaijan has also taken a similar step in Somalia, which holds strategic importance for Turkey. Indeed, the visit of the Somali President to Azerbaijan occurred after the Ankara Declaration signed in December 2024 in Ankara between Somalia and Ethiopia, which foresees the diplomatic resolution of issues between the two sides.

Azerbaijani media reported that beyond Somalia’s support for Azerbaijan on the Karabakh issue as a member of the OIC Contact Group, and its membership in the Non-Aligned Movement, Somalia’s relations with Azerbaijan’s strategic ally, Turkey, also contributed to the visit.

Additionally, during President Mohamud’s visit to Azerbaijan, agreements signed between the two sides aimed at strengthening state authority in Somalia and improving the capabilities of its military and law enforcement forces. These agreements are similar to those signed between Turkey and Somalia over the last 14 years.

In this context, Somalia could be included in the trilateral cooperation mechanisms established by Azerbaijan and Turkey in the region. In particular, cooperation between the armed forces of Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Somalia in ensuring the security of Somalia’s coastline, which lies along global trade routes, could provide positive contributions. Beyond this, the positive role that Azerbaijan and Turkey will play in Somalia’s reconstruction and security could attract the attention of other African countries. Somalia could thus become the gateway for Azerbaijan and Turkey into Africa.

On the other hand, at the last Bishkek Summit of the Turkic States Organization (TDT), a decision was made to enhance cooperation between the TDT and the African Union. This year, the TDT’s official summit will be held in Azerbaijan. Given this, Azerbaijan could provide an important opportunity for the development of TDT-Africa Union relations. As a result, the coordination of Azerbaijan and Turkey’s foreign policies in this field will further strengthen this cooperation. Ultimately, this coordination will contribute to stability not only in the South Caucasus and Turkestan regions but also in Africa.

Dr. Cavid Valiyev, Head of the Foreign Policy Analysis Department at the Azerbaijan International Relations Analysis Center, wrote an article about Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s visit to Azerbaijan and the potential impact of Azerbaijan-Turkey cooperation in Africa.