By Asha Elmi - Reporter
Beijing, 19 September 2025 – Somalia’s Minister of Defence, Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, held talks with China’s Minister of National Defence, Dong Jun, on the sidelines of the Xiangshan International Defence Forum. According to Somalia’s Ministry of Defence, this marked the first ministerial-level defence meeting between the two countries in nearly 40 years.
During the discussions, Minister Fiqi briefed his Chinese counterpart on Somalia’s recent progress in the security and defence sectors. In response, Minister Dong praised Somalia’s ongoing reforms, describing them as “concrete steps of hope and stability that reflect Somalia’s determination to rebuild security and strengthen its national defence institutions.”
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation, with particular emphasis on counter-terrorism, regional stability, support for the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), and enhancing the operational capabilities of the Somali National Armed Forces.
