Turkey

Turkey boosts air and ground support as Somalia escalates war on al-Shabab MOGADISHU, Somalia — Turkey has expanded its military footprint in Somalia, reinforcing air and ground units to support the country’s campaign against al-Shabab as attacks intensify in and around the capital, Turkish security officials said Thursday. The buildup includes new deployments to Türkiye’s Air Component Command in Somalia, with the added assets dedicated to counterterrorism missions. The moves come alongside ongoing work by the…

CAIRO — Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday reaffirmed support for Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, jointly rejecting Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia during a high-level meeting in Cairo. The talks, held ahead of the Egypt–Türkiye High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, centered on bilateral relations and regional flashpoints including Somalia, Sudan and Gaza, according to the Egyptian presidency. Both leaders cast their…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Turkey has deployed F-16 fighter jets to support the Somali National Army, Somali Defense Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi said Wednesday, describing the move as a significant step in strengthening the country’s air capabilities and counterterrorism operations. Announcing the deployment during a handover ceremony for the new army chief at the defense ministry in Mogadishu, Fiqi said the aircraft will provide strategic backing for ongoing security campaigns. “The arrival of Turkey’s F-16s marks a significant…

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Turkish F-16 fighter jets conducted test flights over Mogadishu on Wednesday morning, signaling an expanded military footprint by Ankara in Somalia, according to people familiar with the deployment and local media reports. At least three F-16s arrived in Somalia last Wednesday as part of Turkey’s broadened security support to the Horn of Africa nation, the sources said. The flights were described as tests intended to assess the aircrafts’ readiness and capabilities for future operations while reinforcing…

Türkiye deploys F-16s to Mogadishu as offshore oil push gathers pace MOGADISHU, Somalia — Türkiye has deployed three F-16 fighter jets to Mogadishu, deepening its military footprint in Somalia as Ankara advances plans for offshore oil exploration and broader strategic investments in the Horn of Africa. The jets arrived Wednesday and are believed to be part of Türkiye’s expanding security support for the Somali National Army (SNA), as well as preparations for the expected deployment of a Turkish offshore drilling platform…

Israel’s late-December decision to recognize North Western State of Somalia has collided with entrenched Arab and African interests in the Horn of Africa—and is unlikely to translate into lasting influence in Somalia, according to a prominent regional affairs scholar. Ali Bakr, professor of international affairs, security and defense at Qatar University, said Israel has sought to expand its presence in the Horn since 2023. He told the Novosti news agency that the recognition of North Western State of Somalia, a self-declared…

Turkey monitors Yemen, Somalia as Erdogan, Saudi crown prince discuss regional crises and ties ANKARA — Turkey is “closely” following developments in Yemen and Somalia, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a phone call Sunday with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, stressing the importance of stability and protecting both countries’ territorial integrity, according to Turkey’s Communications Directorate. The two leaders discussed bilateral relations along with regional and global issues, the directorate said. Erdogan…

Türkiye begins building Somalia spaceport after completing feasibility, design work Türkiye has completed feasibility and design studies for a new spaceport in Somalia and begun the first phase of construction, Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacir said Tuesday, marking a strategic push to secure independent access to space and a foothold in the global launch market. The announcement followed President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s remarks at a joint news conference in Istanbul with Somali President Hassan Sheikh…

ISTANBUL — Somalia and Türkiye moved to deepen their energy partnership with high-level talks in Istanbul on Monday, as the countries reviewed ongoing hydrocarbon exploration and mapped operational plans ahead of Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s upcoming visit to Türkiye. Somali Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Dahir Shire Mohamed met with Türkiye’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar to assess the status of joint exploration work in Somalia’s onshore and offshore basins and…

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud will travel to Ankara on Tuesday to meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a high-stakes visit that comes days after Israel said it would recognize North Western State of Somalia and as Turkey and Somalia weigh the next steps in offshore energy exploration. Two people familiar with the plans said Erdogan is expected to address Israel’s unilateral move during talks with Mohamud. The Somali leader also plans to brief Ankara on a seismic survey completed in October off Somalia’s…