Turkey’s unwavering support for Somalia has been renewed with a new endorsement from the Turkish parliament. On Saturday, the parliament approved a presidential motion to send troops to Somalia for two years to help with security against terrorism and other threats, in line with the Turkey-Somalia Defense Cooperation Agreement.
The motion, signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said Turkey has been providing training, assistance and advisory support in Somalia for more than 10 years to ensure security and stability in the country and help restructure the country’s defense and security forces to fight terrorism.
The motion emphasizes that since 2009, Turkish Armed Forces have been actively supporting international efforts to combat piracy, armed robbery and maritime terrorism in the Gulf of Aden, off the coast of Somalia (except Somali territorial waters), the Arabian Sea and adjacent areas. This support is based on the Convention on the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Maritime Navigation and the UN Security Council Resolution of December 16, 2008. The Turkish Parliament most recently extended the mission for one year on January 17. The motion states that Turkey will assume command of Joint Task Force 151 for the seventh time from July. The motion emphasized that despite sufficient manpower and resources, Somalia’s defense and security forces have not reached the desired level due to economic problems. The Somali government wants to control the maritime area and integrate resources into the economy to increase the capacity of the security forces and other national institutions.
This goal is in line with the Somali Security Sector Development Plan adopted at the Somali Security Council co-hosted by Turkey in New York on Dec. 12, 2023. The plan aims for Somalia to assume full responsibility for its own security in the near future.
Turkey plays an active role in Somalia, from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to businesses, from education to finance.
Since President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited the country in 2011, Turkey has built an 80,000-square-meter (861,112-square-foot) embassy in Mogadishu, the largest in Africa. Humanitarian organizations have helped avert famine in 2022 when Somalia faces its worst drought in 40 years. Two Turkish and Somali companies are also building a biogas power plant in Mogadishu, due for completion by the end of the year.
In February, the Somali Cabinet approved a defense and economic agreement with Turkey. The 10-year agreement was signed by Somali Defense Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Noor and his counterpart Yasar Guler during a visit to Turkey in February. The agreement includes training and equipping the Somali Navy to protect the African country’s marine resources and against threats such as terrorism and piracy. For Somalia, it paves the way for more efficient exploitation of its economic potential, from fishing to tourism and energy resources.
Last week, Turkey and Somalia signed an agreement on hydrocarbon exploration and production in Istanbul at a ceremony attended by the energy ministers of both countries.
The motion for military deployment received the support of several opposition parties, including the Party of Happiness (SP). Before the vote in parliament, SP MP and former Ambassador to Somalia Cemalettin Kani Torun said he supported the motion due to Turkey’s historical ties with Somalia. Torun told parliament that Turkey helped Somalia get out of the civil war and that Turkey’s interest in Somalia should not be interpreted as “imperialist” ambitions. “We have a true friendship with Somalia,” he said. Torun also praised Turkey’s decision to send naval vessels to the region to ensure the security of oil exploration facilities and called on the government to be vigilant as the Somaliland region has warned Turkey to stop incursions into Turkey’s “territorial waters.” Opposition MP Sercan Hamsioglu of the Party of Good (IP) said in a debate before the vote that the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) are the vanguard of international security against piracy, smuggling and other illegal activities at sea and will not hesitate to play their role for regional and global peace.
Kamil Aydın, a lawmaker from the government-allied Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), said the motion would prevent a series of terrorist attacks that have hit Turkey’s commercial presence in the region and help improve the Somali state’s finances. Fatih Donmez, a lawmaker from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), said Turkey continues to support the Somali government and army, especially in the fight against the terrorist group Al-Shabaab, through military training. “At the request of the Federal Government of Somalia, we take measures against all risks and threats that threaten our country’s security and international security, and it is crucial to support the territorial integrity and national unity of Somalia and maintain stability in the wider region. Turkey’s support will not delay the main mission of the Turkish army,” he assured other lawmakers.
