President Erdoğan has submitted a motion to the Turkish Parliament seeking a two-year extension of the mandate allowing Turkish forces to continue operating in Somalia under the two countries’ defense cooperation agreements.
The request, submitted to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, states that Somalia’s security and stability are vital to peace across the wider Horn of Africa.
It argues that extending the deployment would enable Turkish forces to continue supporting Somalia in its fight against terrorism and other security threats while strengthening long-term regional stability.
According to the proposal, Turkey has maintained close ties with the Federal Government of Somalia since 2011, significantly expanding cooperation in political, economic, humanitarian, and security sectors.
Ankara noted that it has played a leading role in rebuilding Somalia’s security institutions by providing military training, advisory services, technical assistance, and defense cooperation under a series of bilateral agreements covering military training, defense industries, technical cooperation, and financial support for the Somali National Armed Forces.
The document acknowledges that although Somalia’s security forces have made progress in expanding their personnel and equipment, persistent financial constraints continue to limit their operational capabilities.
It also notes that the Federal Government of Somalia has formally requested Turkey to continue its military assistance under the Defense and Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement signed between the two countries.
Turkey said its continued support would contribute to Somalia’s efforts to combat Al-Shabaab, piracy, illegal fishing, human trafficking, and other transnational security threats.
The proposal also references a United Nations Security Council resolution adopted on December 1, 2023, arguing that Turkey’s military presence supports Somalia’s long-term stability, strengthens the country’s ability to protect its territorial waters and natural resources, and enhances the capacity of its defense and security institutions.
The motion further states that the deployment helps safeguard strategic international maritime routes used by global commercial shipping, including Turkish vessels, while supporting efforts to counter terrorism, piracy, and armed attacks in the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea, and nearby waters.
If approved by the Turkish Parliament, the authorization—granted under Article 92 of Turkey’s Constitution—will be extended for another two years after the current mandate expires on July 27, 2026.
The extension would allow Turkish forces to continue operating in areas agreed upon by both governments, including Somalia’s territorial waters, under the authority of the Turkish President and in accordance with international law and United Nations Security Council resolutions.
It would also permit Turkish forces to cooperate with other countries and international organizations whenever necessary.
Turkey is one of Somalia’s closest international partners and has invested heavily in the country’s reconstruction over the past decade. In addition to building critical infrastructure and providing humanitarian assistance, Ankara operates Camp TURKSOM in Mogadishu—Turkey’s largest overseas military training facility—where thousands of Somali soldiers have received training.
The two countries have also deepened defense and maritime cooperation through agreements signed in recent years, reflecting Turkey’s growing strategic role in Somalia’s security sector.