The Turkish Ambassador Meets Former President of Somalia Sheikh Sharif

Mogadishu – The Turkish ambassador to Somalia, Ferhat Alkan, held a meeting with former President of Somalia, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, where they discussed the latest situations in the country, particularly the political process and the importance of ongoing dialogue and consultation.

As stated in a press release issued by the Turkish Embassy in Somalia, the meeting focused specifically on the recent political developments in the country and the need to strengthen dialogue and understanding among the various political factions in Somalia.

Both sides also recalled the historic visit in 2011 when the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, accompanied by the First Lady of that country, Emine Erdogan, visited Mogadishu, at which time Sheikh Sharif was the President of Somalia and welcomed the Turkish delegation.

The Turkish Embassy noted the historical significance of that visit and its role in the history of the relations and cooperation between the two countries of Somalia and Turkey.

Ambassador Ferhat Alkan also expressed gratitude to Sheikh Sharif, thanking him for his warm welcome and the exchange of views on various issues. This meeting comes at a time when there are political disputes between the Federal Government of Somalia and opposition members united under the Somali Future Council, which is led by former President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed.

The conflict between the two sides is particularly related to electoral issues, the political process, and the government's term length, with the opposition strongly opposing the way the government is managing election-related matters and the political future of the country.

There have also been several meetings and discussions between the government and the opposition, which have yet to reach a final agreement to resolve the existing disputes. The meeting between the Turkish Ambassador and Sheikh Sharif comes at a time when the efforts for dialogue and political consultation aimed at finding a solution to the political disputes in Somalia are of particular importance.