Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, after prolonged resistance, has finally yielded to U.S. pressure by removing Defense Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur. According to journalist Abdiaziz Golf, Washington had scaled back its counterterrorism military support due to strained relations with Nur, who is also a close ally of Türkiye.

In the latest cabinet reshuffle, Somalia’s longest-serving defense minister, Nur, has been reassigned to the position of Minister of Ports. This move is seen as part of the U.S.’s strategic efforts to limit Türkiye’s growing influence in Somalia.

While U.S. pressure reflects concerns over Türkiye’s increasing footprint in Somalia, sources also suggest that Nur’s push to reduce Somalia’s external dependencies and strengthen the country’s self-reliance played a role in triggering this change. Additionally, it is noted that all strategic military agreements with Türkiye were influenced by Defense Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur’s active role. This development marks a significant turning point in Somalia’s political landscape and its foreign policy dynamics.