Somalia, Qatar sign defense pact amid shift in Mogadishu’s security alliances
The agreement focuses on military training, the exchange of expertise, development of defense capabilities and broader security collaboration.
Mogadishu (Somali Report) — Somalia and Qatar have signed a new defense cooperation agreement to strengthen military training, security coordination and institutional capacity, days after the Somali government formally cut security and port agreements with the United Arab Emirates, officials said Monday.
The memorandum of understanding was signed in Doha by Somalia’s defense minister, Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, and Qatar’s deputy prime minister and minister of state for defense affairs, Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan Al Thani.
Somali officials said the deal underscores Mogadishu’s determination to recalibrate its security partnerships while asserting federal authority over defense cooperation.
The agreement focuses on military training, the exchange of expertise, development of defense capabilities and broader security collaboration, according to statement from Somali government. Officials said it is intended to bolster Somalia’s armed forces as they battle the al-Qaida-linked militant group al-Shabab and to contribute to regional security and stability.
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Somali officials framed the pact as a reaffirmation of the strategic relationship between Mogadishu and Doha, describing it as part of a long-term commitment to defense and security cooperation rooted in mutual political trust.
The signing took place on the sidelines of the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference, known as DIMDEX, a four-day event that opened Monday at the Qatar National Convention Centre. Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani inaugurated the exhibition, which brings together more than 200 Qatari and international companies from the maritime, land and air defense sectors.
The timing of the agreement is politically significant. Just days earlier, Somalia’s federal government announced it had terminated its defense and security agreements with the United Arab Emirates, accusing Abu Dhabi of actions that violated Somalia’s sovereignty, unity and political independence. The decision marked a sharp escalation in tensions between Mogadishu and a former key security partner.
Qatar has emerged in recent years as one of Somalia’s closest political and security allies, offering diplomatic backing and support for state-building and institutional reform. Doha has consistently aligned itself with Mogadishu on questions of territorial integrity and was among the first countries to reject Israel’s recent move to recognize Somaliland, the self-declared republic in northern Somalia.
Somali officials say the new defense agreement with Qatar reflects a broader strategy to diversify international security partnerships while ensuring that all cooperation is conducted through the federal government and in line with Somalia’s constitution.
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