Türkiye’s two-year military deployment to Somalia green-lighted by parliament

Some elements of the Turkish Armed Forces will be deployed to Somalia for two years to assist the Horn of Africa country with security efforts against terrorism and other threats following the Turkish parliament’s approval of a presidential motion on Saturday (27 July)

This decision follows a defense and economic cooperation agreement signed between both countries in February this year, which aims to enhance Somalia’s maritime defense capabilities. The Turkish forces will be deployed to Somalia, including to its maritime jurisdiction areas, to further boost Turkey’s training, assistance and advisory support in the Horn of Africa country to ensure security and stability within the scope of bilateral agreements. The Somali-Turkish deal paves way for Ankara to help build the Somali defense and security forces and ensure they gain the capabilities to counter terrorism, piracy, and all types of smuggling and other threats.

Under the deal, Türkiye will protect Somalia’s 3,000-kilometer coastline, bordering Kenya and Ethiopia to the west and Djibouti to the northwest. It comes as the Turkish naval forces have been actively supporting international efforts to combat piracy in the Gulf of Aden, Somali territorial waters and the Arabian Sea.

The Turkish Energy Ministry also recently announced Ankara’s plans to send an oil and gas exploration vessel to the coast of Somalia later this year, as part of a hydrocarbon cooperation deal between the two countries.

Meanwhile, Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland has warned against any deployment of Turkish forces in its maritime zones, saying it would constitute “a grave violation of international law and Somaliland’s sovereign rights.”