Hiiraan Online
Sunday July 8, 2018
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan walks with Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed during a welcome ceremony, Ankara, Turkey, April, 26, 2017 (Presidency Press Service photo via AP).
Mogadishu (HOL) - President Farmajo will be among the 22 heads of states who will attend Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's inauguration ceremony at the Presidential Complex on Monday, according to Turkish state-owned media.
Farmajo led a delegation that flew out of Mogadishu on Sunday.
Turkish media have confirmed that the Presidents of Bulgaria, Georgia, Macedonia, Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Sudan, Guinea, Zambia, Guinea Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Somalia, Mauritania, Gabon, Chad, Djibouti, Venezuela, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus as well as Emir of Qatar, have confirmed that they will attend.
A total of 28 foreign dignitaries - including prime ministers, vice presidents, cabinet ministers and parliamentary speakers - are also expected to attend the ceremony.
Farmajo was among the first world leaders to congratulate Erdogan on his election victory in a statement on Twitter.
"Congratulations to President @RT_Erdogan on his successful presidential election. The government & people of Somalia congratulate the people of Turkey on their historic presidential and parliamentary elections. Turkey a valuable partner of Somalia," he wrote.
The two nations have longstanding ties and are closely allied. Turkey operates a military training base in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu that is among it’s largest overseas military facilities. The Turkish Embassy in Mogadishu is the largest Turkish embassy in the world.
Erdogan will be sworn-in at his countries parliament on Monday at 4:30 p.m. local time. Following the swearing-in ceremony, he will visit Anitkabir, the mausoleum of the founder of the Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
Erdogan’s inauguration ceremony will be held at the Presidential Complex and will begin at 6:30.