Thousands of Somalis gathered across several cities and towns for a third consecutive day, reaffirming their appreciation for the longstanding support and solidarity extended to Somalia by the Government and people of the Republic of Türkiye.

From strategically important towns to local community centres, residents, elders, youth, women, students and civil society representatives turned out in large numbers.

In several locations, stadiums and town centres were filled with people expressing gratitude for Türkiye’s humanitarian, development, security and economic engagement with Somalia.

The gatherings were also attended and supported by leaders of local administrations, who joined communities in recognising what speakers described as Türkiye’s enduring role in Somalia’s journey towards stability, reconstruction and economic renewal.

Addressing a large gathering in Barawe, Governor Omar Abdullahi said the depth of the relationship between the two countries went beyond conventional diplomacy.

“Somalia is your second home. You are our brothers. You stood with us when the rest of the world looked away at a very critical time. We thank the Government and the people of the Republic of Türkiye, led by President Erdoğan, for this true brotherhood and for your role in helping us build a stable Somalia.”

He added that Somalis would remain grateful for Türkiye’s support and reaffirmed the importance of the bonds between the two peoples.

“We reassure President Erdoğan and our Turkish brothers and sisters that we are grateful for your support. We will never forget the true solidarity Türkiye has shown towards Somalia,” he said.

A relationship forged in difficult times

Local elders also took to the podium, one after another, recalling the humanitarian assistance Türkiye provided during some of Somalia’s most difficult periods.

Speakers highlighted the country’s engagement in health, education, infrastructure, security and humanitarian assistance, while also welcoming recent developments in Somalia’s natural-resource sector.

For many of those gathered, Türkiye’s relationship with Somalia is remembered not simply through diplomatic agreements or development projects, but through the symbolism of standing alongside a nation at a moment when international attention was limited.

One elder recalled Türkiye’s decision to deepen its diplomatic presence in Somalia in 2011, describing it as a defining moment in the relationship between the two countries.

“In 2011, when no country had an embassy in Somalia, while the rest of the world looked away and no one saw Somalia as a safe country to visit, Türkiye came to us and showed the rest of the world that we were a safe place.”

He pointed to Türkiye’s continued engagement as evidence, in his view, of a transformation in how Somalia is perceived internationally.

“Today, Türkiye is showing the world that Somalia is a great place to invest in,” he said, drawing loud cheers from the crowd.

Another elder spoke of President Erdoğan’s support for Somalia and described Türkiye as a country that had continued to advocate for Muslim countries and communities facing hardship.

“President Erdoğan stood with Muslim countries and stood with us, the Somali people,” he said. “Türkiye has remained a voice for the oppressed in the world.”

He added that the Turkish-Somali relationship represented, in his view, a bond of dignity, faith and shared brotherhood, while condemning any acts of disrespect towards Türkiye or its national symbols.

Gratitude rooted in years of humanitarian support

For another elder, the relationship between the two nations was rooted in a simple principle: gratitude for those who stand beside communities in times of need.

“Whoever does not appreciate the kindness of a fellow human being does not appreciate the kindness of Allah,” he said.

“For more than 15 years, Türkiye has stood with Somalia; from times of severe drought to periods of profound national difficulty. We will never tolerate disrespect towards our Turkish brothers or attempts to divide this brotherhood.”

The remarks reflected a recurring theme throughout the gatherings: that Türkiye’s engagement with Somalia is remembered particularly strongly because of its visibility during moments of acute humanitarian need.

Young Somalis highlight education and security cooperation

Young people also played a prominent role in the demonstrations. Adan Abdinur Abdikadir, a youth leader, highlighted Türkiye’s support for education and the training of Somali security personnel.

“Every year, Somali soldiers complete their training with support from Türkiye, while thousands of students graduate. Long live the Republic of Türkiye and the Turkish people,” he said.

He also pointed to Türkiye’s involvement in infrastructure, natural-resource exploration and efforts to strengthen peace and security.

“Türkiye came to us and showed us true brotherhood when we needed someone most,” Abdikadir said.

Other speakers similarly highlighted Türkiye’s engagement across healthcare, education, security and economic development, describing the relationship as one that has created opportunities for Somalia and its people.

Condemnation of Al-Shabaab

Some speakers also linked their appreciation for Türkiye to the fight against Al-Shabaab, arguing that the terrorist group has opposed Turkish humanitarian and development assistance in Somalia.

One elder alleged that Al-Shabaab terrorists had previously burned food aid delivered through Türkiye and accused the group of seeking to undermine Türkiye’s reputation among Somalis.

“Türkiye has contributed and invested a great deal in Somalia in health, education, security and economic investment,” he said.

The elder further argued that those seeking to undermine Türkiye’s role in Somalia were acting against the interests of the Somali people, and described Türkiye’s contribution to Somalia’s security efforts as an important element of the country’s continuing struggle against Al-Shabaab. These remarks were met with strong reactions from the crowds.

‘Long live Türkiye, long live Somalia’

Women, young people, students, civil-society representatives, community leaders and security stakeholders joined the demonstrations, chanting messages of solidarity with Türkiye and calling for the strengthening of Somali-Turkish relations.

Among the chants heard from the crowds were: “Long live Türkiye!” “Long live President Erdoğan!” “Long live President Hassan Sheikh!” “Long live Somalia!”

Speaker after speaker also returned to the significance of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s historic 2011 visit to Somalia, when he was serving as Prime Minister.

For many Somalis, the visit remains an enduring symbol of Türkiye’s decision to engage directly with Somalia at a time of extraordinary humanitarian and political difficulty.