Baghdad, Oct 22, 2025 – Somalia’s police chief met with Iraq’s interior minister in Baghdad on Wednesday to strengthen bilateral cooperation on security, officials said, as both nations continue to grapple with extremist threats.
Major General Asad Osman Abdullahi, the commander of the Somali Police Force, held talks with Iraq’s Interior Minister Abdul-Amir al-Shammari during an official visit aimed at enhancing ties and exchanging counter-terrorism expertise.
The meeting was also attended by Somalia’s ambassador to Iraq, Ridwan Hirsi Mohamed.
“The discussions focused on boosting security collaboration between the two countries, particularly in areas of intelligence sharing, police training, and the fight against organized crime and terrorism,” Somali officials said in a statement.
Somalia and Iraq have both endured long-standing conflicts with Islamist militant groups. While Somalia battles the Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab insurgency, Iraq continues to confront remnants of the Islamic State group.
Officials described the meeting as part of broader efforts by Somalia to deepen international security partnerships and build institutional capacity within its police force.
Further meetings are expected between Somali and Iraqi security officials during the visit.
