Somalia Joins China-East Africa Security Talks on Cybercrime and Transnational Threats

LIANYUNGANG — Somalia’s Minister of Internal Security, Brigadier General Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail (Fartaag), delivered a speech at the Third China-East Africa Ministerial Dialogue on Law Enforcement and Security Cooperation, where he participated in discussions on combating cybercrime and telecommunications-related offenses.

The ministerial dialogue was held on September 10, co-chaired by Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong and Rwandan Minister of Interior Vincent Biruta. The theme of the meeting was “Working Together to Address Common Challenges and Achieve Common Security.” Wang stated that China is willing to work with East African countries to jointly combat transnational crimes including terrorism, kidnapping and unlawful detention, and telecom and online fraud.

Fartaag’s participation comes as Somalia actively seeks to expand its international security cooperation. The Somali government is working to strengthen international partnerships in combating terrorism, organized crime, and other cross-border threats.

Forum Scale and Agenda

Fartaag also attended the opening ceremony of the 2026 Global Public Security Cooperation Forum (Lianyungang). The forum brought together more than 2,100 participants from 139 countries and regions, aimed at strengthening security cooperation and promoting joint responses to cross-border security threats.

The forum agenda covered combating terrorism and organized crime, cybercrime, drug-related crime, immigration security, and the application of modern technology in public security. Somalia’s participation reflects its commitment to expanding international security cooperation, exchanging professional expertise, and developing modern approaches to preventing organized crime and addressing emerging cross-border security threats.

Deepening Somalia-China Security Cooperation

Fartaag and Chinese Ambassador to Somalia Wang Yu have met multiple times previously to discuss strengthening bilateral security cooperation. During a meeting in April, the two sides focused on capacity building for Somali security forces and combating violent extremism, with China pledging support for Somalia’s demining agency and capacity building for its personnel to reduce landmine risks and enhance civilian safety.

Senior Somali security officials have previously completed capacity-building programmes in China under the framework of China’s Global Security Initiative, focusing on law enforcement, counterterrorism, and border security, including courses on cybersecurity, crisis response, and transnational crime prevention. China has also provided military scholarships to 31 officers of the Somali National Armed Forces for advanced training in leadership, strategy, engineering, and technical skills at Chinese military academies.

Additionally, China has pledged equipment support to Somalia’s prison system to improve conditions and security in detention facilities. Somali Corrections Force Commander Brigadier General Mohamed Sheikh Hassan Hamud discussed prison facility upgrades, modernization of communication networks, and professional training for corrections personnel with Ambassador Wang Yu.

Critical Note

Minister Fartaag’s participation in the China-East Africa Ministerial Dialogue marks a continued expansion of Somalia’s international security cooperation. Somalia is actively seeking to diversify its security partnerships, opening new channels of cooperation beyond its traditional partners. China, as the proponent of the Global Security Initiative, is extending its security cooperation framework to East Africa, and Somalia, as one of the region’s most complex security environments, is a natural focal point for this strategy.

However, as Somalia expands its international security cooperation, its domestic security capacity-building still faces fundamental challenges. The Somali National Army and police forces remain heavily dependent on external support for equipment, training, and logistics, while security coordination mechanisms between federal member states and the federal government are not yet fully streamlined. In this context, how Somalia translates support from international partners into autonomous capacity for its own security institutions, rather than creating new dependency relationships, will be key to determining its long-term security outlook.

Furthermore, non-traditional security threats such as cybercrime and telecom fraud are increasingly prominent in Somalia and the wider East African region. These crimes often cross borders and exploit technological vulnerabilities, placing new capacity demands on law enforcement agencies. If Somalia’s cooperation with China and other East African countries in this area can be upgraded from mere training exchanges to substantive joint action mechanisms, it would be more effective in addressing these emerging threats. Such cooperation, however, must be conducted with respect for national legal frameworks and citizens’ rights, avoiding undue restrictions on privacy and freedom of expression arising from information sharing and law enforcement cooperation.