Turkeys

Turkey’s Expanding Influence in Somalia Draws Sharp Criticism AXADLE, Somalia — Puntland State’s State Minister of Information, Mohamud Aided Dirir, has sharply criticized Turkey’s growing footprint in Somalia, alleging the engagement is driven by self-interest, corruption and exploitation rather than the country’s long-term stability, security or good governance. Dirir said Ankara’s presence undermines Somalia’s sovereignty and misappropriates local resources, arguing that foreign assistance should reinforce Somali…

Somalia confirms delay in $30 million Turkish budget support as budget vote looms MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s government has confirmed a delay in receiving $30 million in annual budget support from Turkey, a setback arriving as lawmakers are yet to approve a federal spending plan valued at more than $1 billion. Finance Minister Bihi Iman Egeh told local media on Wednesday that Ankara’s transfer — a recurring injection into Somalia’s treasury in recent years — has not arrived on its usual schedule. “Turkey has been…

Analysis: Turkish Intelligence Flags ‘Unprecedented Fragility’ in Somalia as Ankara’s Stakes Deepen ANKARA, Turkey — A new intelligence academy report in Turkey warns that Somalia faces “unprecedented fragility,” identifying a confluence of security, political and institutional risks that could shape the trajectory of the country’s stability — and the future of Ankara’s most ambitious partnership in Africa. The assessment, titled “A Multidimensional Partnership Model,” acknowledges gains in the Turkey–Somalia relationship…

Turkey’s Residency Freeze Meets Somali Realities: What a Quiet Diplomatic Meeting Reveals In Ankara this week, a low-key meeting between Somali Ambassador Fathudiin Ali Mohamed Ospite and Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya put a human face on a policy that has reshaped daily life for foreigners across Turkey: the suspension of most new residency permits. The conversation was practical—how to help Somali citizens renew and obtain legal stay when the rules have tightened—but the implications are wider. As countries from…

NAIROBI, Kenya - Turkey's plunge into oil exploration off the Somali coast has stirred profound schisms in the country. An archaic map dusted off with controversial revisions now intensifies jitters in this fragile region, where internal strife and external pressures persistently choreograph a clunky ballet of development and turmoil. Voicing his concerns, Abdi Farah Juxa, Northeastern State's top honcho for Interior Affairs, carpeted the use of this map during the grand debut of a Turkish research vessel. "After three…

In Istanbul on October 19, 2024, Hakan Fidan, Turkey's Foreign Minister, delivered remarks at a press conference. (REUTERS/Dilara Senkaya/File Photo. Purchase Licensing Rights) Next week, the Turkish foreign minister is jetting off to Djibouti. The agenda? A pivotal Turkey-Africa ministerial shindig, aiming to bolster ties between Ankara and the African continent, according to ministry insiders. Over recent stretches, Turkey, a NATO ally, has ratcheted up its footprint and sway in Africa. It's been boosting trade nearly…

MOGADISHU — Turkey’s energetic foray into oil and gas discovery near Somalia's shores has stirred up a hornet's nest of tensions. Northeastern State, Somalia's most senior Federal State, finds itself in a tussle with Mogadishu on the prickly issue of maritime borders. The arrival of Oruc Reis, a Turkish seismic survey ship, has dialed up Turkey’s focus on Somalia, much to the chagrin of Northeastern State's President, Said Abdullahi Deni, along with his aides. Deni and his team claim the central government is manipulating…

 Mogadishu (AX) — The Turkish research ship, Oruc Reis, has anchored off the coast of Somalia, kicking off a seven-month exploration to hunt for oil and gas possibilities within licensed Somali seas. "The ship's arrival signifies Türkiye's deepening energy alliances with East Africa," remarked Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar on Friday.Enveloped in cutting-edge technology for complex three-dimensional seismic research, the vessel will sweep across three selected offshore zones, each stretching around 5,000 square…

In the latter part of October, a ship is set to anchor near Somalia's shore to perform seismic surveys for potential oil and gas reserves!Casting off from Istanbul this Saturday, Türkiye's own research vessel, Oruc Reis, is prepped for a Somali voyage, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar waving it off.The boat's on track to hit Somalia's waters before October fades. There, it'll hunt for oil and gas in three zones where Türkiye's bagged exploration rights, according to official chatter…