Russia and Somalia Discuss Military Cooperation at Russia–Africa Summit

Russia and Somalia have discussed expanding military cooperation, with training of Somali personnel and experience-sharing in counter-terrorism and anti-piracy named as priority areas, Russia’s Defence Ministry said on its official Telegram channel on 28 October 2026. Deputy Defence Minister Vasily Osmakov met Somali Defence Minister Ahmed Fiqi on the sidelines of the third Russia–Africa summit.

What the two sides agreed to focus on

According to the Russian ministry, the two officials discussed the prospects for developing bilateral military cooperation and exchanged views on approaches to joint initiatives in regional and global security.

The ministry said the sides identified three priority directions for cooperation between their defence establishments: improving the legal and regulatory framework, training national military personnel, and sharing experience in the fields of greatest mutual interest, above all the fight against terrorism and piracy. The meeting, it added, confirmed mutual interest in strengthening Russian–Somali military ties.

A second round of talks this year

The meeting follows earlier contacts between the two defence ministries. In late May 2026, Osmakov received Somalia’s State Minister of Defence, Omar Ali Abdi, in Moscow, where the two sides reviewed promising areas of defence cooperation, according to Russian ministry statements reported by regional media. That round also produced no publicly disclosed agreements.

Somalia’s president had confirmed earlier this year that he would attend the Russia–Africa summit, which Moscow is using to showcase its political, economic and security partnerships across the continent.

Why it matters

Somalia remains engaged in a long-running campaign against the al-Shabaab insurgency and relies on a wide range of international security partners for training, equipment and funding. Piracy off the Somali coast, which surged in the late 2000s, has also been a recurring concern for international shipping.

For Moscow, closer defence ties with Mogadishu would extend a pattern of military outreach in Africa that has included training agreements and security partnerships with several states. Whether the latest talks lead to a formal agreement, training places for Somali officers or other concrete steps has not been disclosed.

Featured image: AMISOM Public Information / CC0, via Wikimedia Commons