Saturday June 3, 2023
Ankara (HOL) - Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud arrived in Ankara on Friday night to attend the inauguration ceremony of President Rajab Dayib Erdogan, scheduled for Saturday.
During his visit, President Mohamud is set to hold a separate meeting with President Erdogan, primarily focusing on strengthening bilateral relations between the two nations.
Following a phone call on Wednesday to extend his congratulations on President Erdogan's re-election, President Mohamed reaffirmed the Somali government's commitment to fostering robust bilateral ties and expressed a keenness to deepen collaboration in areas of shared interest.
Acconrding to the Somali government, the meeting between the two leaders will provide an opportunity to explore avenues for increased cooperation, and further consolidate the longstanding relationship between Somalia and Türkiye.
President Mohamud's presence at the inauguration ceremony and subsequent talks with President Erdogan underscore the importance of diplomatic engagement and mutual understanding between the two countries. The discussions aim to reinforce the bonds of friendship and explore avenues for joint initiatives that contribute to the prosperity and progress of both Somalia and Türkiye.
Erdogan will take the oath in the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye at 1400 local time and will begin his new term.
After the ceremony, Erdogan will visit Anıtkabir at 1500 and attend the Inauguration Ceremony at the Presidential Complex at 1700.
He will host guests at a dinner at Cankaya Palace, the former home of Turkish presidents, after the ceremony at around 1900.
He is expected to announce his Cabinet after dinner.
Erdogan won a presidential runoff election last Sunday with 52.18% of the vote. Opposition candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu received 47.82%, according to final results released by the country's Supreme Election Council.
Longstanding bilateral relations and extensive development cooperation mark the enduring partnership between Somalia and Turkey. Somalia has an embassy in Ankara, while Turkey maintains an embassy in Mogadishu.