Somalia, China Discuss Defence Cooperation at Beijing Security Forum
Somalia's Defence Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi met with Chinese officials at the Fourth China-Africa Peace and Security Forum in Beijing to discuss defense cooperation. The talks focused on Somalia's efforts to combat al-Shabaab and the broader goal of strengthening African security capabilities with Chinese support.
Why it matters
This meeting underscores China's growing security and diplomatic footprint in Africa and Somalia's strategic pivot toward international partnerships for state-building.
Beijing, 18 September 2026 Somalia discussed strengthening defence and security cooperation with China and other African countries at a forum in Beijing, the Somali Defence Ministry said on Friday. This year's forum was the Fourth China-Africa Peace and Security Forum, held under the theme: "Building Security Together: Rendering Mutual Support for Seven Decades, Undertaking Shared Responsibility in New Realities." Military representatives and diplomatic envoys from the African Union and 41 African countries attended the gathering. It was hosted by Chinese Defence Minister Admiral Dong Jun and attended by defence ministers, military commanders and other senior officials.
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