Wednesday, December 05, 2012
By Selcan Hacaoglu
Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud traveled to Turkey in his first trip abroad to bolster defense and trade ties.
Turkish President Abdullah Gul welcomed Mohamoud in a military ceremony today, state-run Anatolia news agency said. Mohamoud was elected as president in September, marking the 16th attempt to establish central government since ouster of former dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991.
Mohamoud told reporters yesterday before leaving the capital Mogadishu that his trip was designed to strengthen military, technical and economic ties. He’s scheduled to meet Turkish businessmen in Istanbul on Dec. 6 and 7, Anatolia said, citing the presidential office.
To contact the reporter on this story: Selcan Hacaoglu in Ankara at [email protected]
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Andrew J. Barden at [email protected]