Somalia, China Hold Defense Talks

Somali Defense Minister Ahmed Moallin Fiqi met Chinese Defense Minister Admiral Dong Jun at the Xiangshan Forum, marking the first ministerial-level talks in nearly 40 years. They agreed to deepen cooperation on regional security, counter-terrorism, AU mission support, and Somali National Army development. The meeting highlighted Somalia’s gains against Al-Shabaab and laid the groundwork for intelligence sharing, training, and economic support to strengthen stability in Somalia and the Horn of Africa.