MOGADISHU — Somalia on Wednesday marked 15 years since Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s historic visit to Mogadishu, a trip widely regarded as a turning point in relations between Somalia and Türkiye.
The visit took place on August 19, 2011, when Erdoğan was serving as Türkiye’s prime minister. He travelled to Somalia during Ramadan with his family, including First Lady Emine Erdoğan, senior government officials, lawmakers, Turkish business representatives, humanitarian organisations and members of the media.
At the time, Somalia was experiencing one of its worst humanitarian crises in decades. A severe drought, prolonged conflict and political instability had left millions facing hunger and displacement, while much of the international community remained reluctant to engage directly with Mogadishu because of security concerns.
Erdoğan’s visit brought renewed international attention to the crisis and marked a major shift in Türkiye’s approach to Somalia, with Ankara subsequently expanding its humanitarian, diplomatic and development engagement.
Speaking at an anniversary ceremony in Mogadishu, Turkish Ambassador to Somalia Alper Aktaş described the 2011 visit as more than a diplomatic mission, saying it demonstrated that the Somali people were not alone during the crisis.
The relationship expanded rapidly after the visit. Türkiye reopened its embassy in Mogadishu in November 2011, while Turkish Airlines resumed direct flights to the Somali capital in March 2012, reconnecting Somalia with international travel after years of isolation.
Türkiye later increased its involvement in healthcare, education, infrastructure, humanitarian assistance and institutional development. The Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Training and Research Hospital in Mogadishu became one of the most prominent symbols of the partnership.
The two countries also strengthened cooperation in security and defence. Türkiye established the TURKSOM military training facility in Mogadishu, where Somali security personnel have received training as part of efforts to strengthen national security institutions.
More recently, bilateral cooperation has expanded into the energy sector, particularly Somalia’s potential offshore oil and gas resources. Türkiye has conducted seismic surveys off the Somali coast and deployed drilling capabilities as part of agreements covering offshore exploration.
Somali officials attending Wednesday’s ceremony described the relationship as having evolved from emergency humanitarian assistance into a broader strategic partnership covering development, security, trade, healthcare and energy.
Somalia’s Foreign Minister Abdisalam Abdi Ali said the 15-year milestone was an important occasion and expressed hope that cooperation between the two countries would become even stronger over the next 15 years.
Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Hassan Moalim Mohamud Sheikh Ali said Türkiye’s willingness to engage with Somalia at a time when many countries focused primarily on insecurity helped restore confidence in Somalia’s future.
The anniversary highlights how Erdoğan’s 2011 visit became a defining moment in modern Somalia-Türkiye relations, transforming what began as a humanitarian response into a long-term strategic partnership.
