Somalis hold 'thank you' rally for Turkish govt

Andalou Agency

Gathered in central Mogadishu's Freedom Park near the Somali presidential palace, demonstrators raised Somali and Turkish flags.

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Hundreds of Somalis staged a Tuesday rally in Mogadishu to thank the Turkish government for providing their nation with humanitarian aid and development projects.

Mogadishu municipality head Mohamed Youssef told Anadolu Agency that the municipality had called for the rally earlier this week to voice its appreciation for Turkish government largesse.

Gathered in central Mogadishu's Freedom Park near the Somali presidential palace, demonstrators raised Somali and Turkish flags while chanting: "Thank you Turkey, thank you [Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip] Erdogan."

"Ankara's role in helping Somalia cannot be overlooked," Youssef told AA, adding that numerous government officials and civil society figures had participated in the rally.

A number of Turkish governmental institutions sponsor several development projects in troubled Somalia, especially in the fields of infrastructure, healthcare, education and humanitarian relief.

In 2012, Turkish Airlines became the first national carrier to offer direct flights to Mogadishu following a 20-year hiatus.

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