MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud held emergency talks with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in Ankara on Thursday, seeking heightened military assistance as Islamist militants close in on the capital, Mogadishu, exploiting disintegrating government defenses.
The hastily arranged meeting followed Mohamud’s abrupt departure from Adale, where he had been rallying troops and clan militias to counter an alarming militant advance. The president was forced to evacuate on Wednesday after al-Shabaab insurgents seized Masajid Ali Gadud in the Middle Shabelle region and a nearby village just 24 kilometers from his location.
Security advisors urgently advised Mohamud to return to Mogadishu. This has also followed a recent roadside bombing near his residence, underscoring the growing threat to Somalia’s fragile leadership.
With Turkish-supplied drones proving ineffective in halting militant offensive, Mohamud is expected to press Ankara for direct ground troop deployments and enhanced military aid to stem the insurgents’ relentless push.
Additionally, the Somali government is seeking reinforcements from Ethiopia, urging Addis Ababa to deploy forces in Middle Shabelle region to bolster collapsing defenses of the army and regroup demoralized Somali troops.
The rapid territorial losses mark a critical juncture in Somalia’s protracted conflict, raising fears of a potential militant siege on Mogadishu unless immediate foreign intervention materializes.
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