Türkiye, which maintains strong relations with Somalia, has appointed a new ambassador to replace Alper Aktaş, who has served in the country since February 15, 2024.
The new envoy, Ferhat Alkan, previously served as Türkiye’s ambassador to Mozambique. Aktaş has been reassigned to North Macedonia as Türkiye’s new ambassador there.
The diplomatic reshuffle comes at a time when Ankara is playing an active role in efforts to ease political tensions in Somalia related to the electoral process.
A Turkish delegation has been in Somalia in recent days to mediate between the federal government and opposition groups amid an election-related stalemate. The talks follow last week’s confrontation in Mogadishu, which heightened concerns over the political situation.
Türkiye remains a key strategic partner of Somalia, with cooperation spanning defense, economic development, oil and gas exploration, and the training of Somali security forces.
