Finally Good News from Somalia

Somali-Turk · May 3, 2017

president elect of the federal republic of Somalia on a state visit to ethiopia.

Somali-Turk · May 6, 2017

#Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo has arrived in Ethiopia capital, Addis Ababa on Wednesday afternoon following the invitation of Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn, President Farmajo's communication office said.
The President’s visit, the first to the neighboring country since his election in February, is seen a refreshing one for the Ethiopia-Somalia relations. He has earlier visited five other countries including Turkey, Jordan, Kenya, UAE, and Saudi Arabia but not Ethiopia, defying longtime held culture for elected Somalia leaders.
Ethiopian forces are part of the African Union Mission (AMISOM) in Somalia fighting the militant group Al-Shabab.
Farmajo's visit to Ethiopia came following a comment by high ranking Ethiopian general in Somalia who deplored President Farmajo's actions of "disrespecting Ethiopian troops" in Baidoa, Somalia when the President visited the town on April 25.
According to a statement released by Villa Somalia, President Farmajo was received by his Ethiopian host, high-ranking government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, and members of the Somalia community.
"The visit was aimed at further strengthening the already existing fraternal ties during the assumption of office by a new leadership in Somalia,” the statement added.
"During the visit, the two leaders, accompanied by their respective delegations, held extensive and fruitful discussions on bilateral, regional and international issues of common interest.” Somali president’s statement added.
The two leaders then held joint press conference at the Ethiopian Prime Minister’s Office where they recalled their meetings in Mogadishu during the inauguration of the newly elected President and in Nairobi for the Refugees Summit. The discussions were held in a frank and cordial manner that characterizes the historic friendship existing between the two countries.

Desirous of invigorating the commendable bond of fraternity between the two countries, the two leaders exchanged views on ways and means to further consolidate their cooperation in various fields. Furthermore, the two leaders agreed to forge closer ties based on the principles of good neighborliness, mutual respect and the promotion of mutual interest.
The two leaders committed to fully implement previously signed agreements to revitalize the already existing mechanisms of cooperation. Accordingly, they expressed their readiness to create a high-level joint cooperation committee to further the collaboration between the two countries. They reaffirmed that both countries need to have strong economic cooperation. Accordingly, they expressed the need to encourage free movement of goods and services between their respective countries for mutual benefit.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn congratulated the Somali leader on the recent remarkable achievements in Somalia including the successful conduct of Parliamentary and Presidential elections and the peaceful transfer of power.
Mr. Dessalegn also expressed appreciation for the commitment made by the Federal Government of Somalia and federal member states leaders to tackle the security problems, including through urgent reform of the Somali security sector and a renewed Somalia campaign to defeat al-Shabaa

Somali-Turk · May 10, 2017

https://twitter.com/x/status/861586440106409986

Somali-Turk · Jun 10, 2017

combined-joint-task-force-horn-of-africa-image

MOGADISHU, Somalia-- The Deputy Commanding General for the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) in Somalia has donned his first star as of June 4.

In a ceremony at the Mogadishu International Airport in Mogadishu, Somalia, attended by a room full of distinguished ambassadors and international military partners, U.S. Army Brig. Gen Miguel A. Castellanos was promoted to brigadier general.

In his current dual-hatted position as deputy commanding general for CJTF-HOA in Somalia and Mogadishu Coordination Cell (MCC) director, he is the senior U.S. military liaison to the Federal Government of Somalia, Somali National Security Forces, and international partners.

U.S. Marine Gen. Thomas Waldhauser, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) commander, presided over the ceremony and spoke highly of Castellanos’ potential and capabilities. Having recently worked closely with Castellanos in Stuttgart, Germany, while Castellanos was the deputy director for AFRICOM’s Strategy, Plans, and Programs Directorate, Waldhauser shared his first impressions of the new brigadier general.

“I met Mike about 7 months ago and very quickly I could see why he had been selected for general,” said Waldhauser. “There are attributes that you want in a general: leadership [skills], teambuilding, knowledge, calmness, and the ability to take complex problems and figure out ways to move forward. Mike displayed those from the day he joined our staff and I was very impressed with his work.”

Waldhauser expressed that shortly after the election the current president of Somalia, there was a need for more senior officers in the MCC to help synchronize efforts between the international military partners, pull various agencies together and develop momentum to change the dynamic of Somalia to move forward.

“I knew the guy that we needed to send down here,” said Waldhauser.

The AFRICOM commander stated Castellanos’ absence would be felt within his staff, but that only further confirmed that he was the right person for the job.

With marching orders from Waldhauser to “go do what generals do,” Castellanos asked no further questions and set forth to make his contribution to this AFRICOM mission.

As the senior U.S. military officer in Somalia, Castellanos works from the Mogadishu International Airport compound with his team to support combined military efforts to achieve U.S. Africa Command's top priority of defeating Al-Shabaab in Somalia and successfully transitioning security functions to Somali National Security Forces.

“At the end of the day, having the ability to serve and continue to serve after over 30 years is very humbling and I’m grateful for the opportunity,” said Castellanos. “My time here is undetermined, but my intent is to stay as long as needed to get the international community and the country of Somalia moving back in the right direction.

Somali-Turk · Jun 10, 2017

https://twitter.com/x/status/857125316594106368

https://twitter.com/x/status/856788440712720385

https://twitter.com/x/status/871980189865193472

Banana production

https://twitter.com/x/status/872341110282215424

Somali-Turk · Aug 1, 2017

bsruzm · Sep 30, 2017

"The head of the Turkish military arrived in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu on Friday, military officials said.
General Hulusi Akar was received by the commander of the Somali armed forces, General Mohamed Ahmed Jimale, at Adan Abdulle international airport in Mogadishu.

Abdullahi Iman, a spokesman for Somalia's Defence Ministry said that Akar arrived in the Horn of Africa nation on Friday under tight security and was received by his counterpart.

He added that Akar's visit is to attend the opening ceremony of a Turkish military training facility in Mogadishu, which is due to open tomorrow.

He gave no further details of the visit, but Akar is expected to meet Somalia’s president, Mohamed Abdullahi
Mohamed, as well as the prime minister, senior Somali government officials said.

Senior Turkish government officials are expected to arrive in Mogadishu to participate in the opening ceremony on Saturday.

The facility. Turkey's largest overseas military base, is spread out over 4 square kilometres.
The base has the capacity to train over 1,500 troops at a time, according to the Somali government."

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BMC Kirpi MRAP's:

bsruzm · Oct 1, 2017

"The academy was inaugurated by Turkey's Chief of General Staff Hulusi Akar and Somali Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire in a ceremony held at the training facility.

Senior Somali officials, Turkish and foreign diplomats attended the ceremony amid tight security.

"My government and our Somali people will not forget this huge help by our Turkish brothers. This academy will help us train more troops," Khaire said at the inauguration ceremony.

For his part, Hulusi Akar said the Turkish government would "continue to support our Somali brothers until their country becomes militarily stronger."."

Turkey opens its largest military academy in Somalia