Source: Jerusalem Post and newspaper Le Monde
TEL AVIV/ PARIS — Türkiye is developing a space launch facility in Somalia that could also be used for ballistic missile testing, according to a report by French newspaper Le Monde, which has raised concerns among analysts about potential regional security implications, including for Israel.
The report said the facility is being constructed in central Somalia, with early works beginning in late 2025 near Warsheikh, around 70 kilometres north of Mogadishu. It described the project as combining a satellite launch base for Türkiye’s space programme with infrastructure that could support long-range missile testing.
The spaceport was officially announced in December 2025 as part of a technological cooperation agreement between Somalia and Turkey, reflecting a decade-long expansion of defence, infrastructure, and economic ties between the two countries.
According to the report, the project represents a significant extension of Türkiye’s strategic footprint in the Horn of Africa, an initiative closely associated with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
The investigation also cited security analysts who argue that such a facility could enhance Türkiye’s long-range missile capabilities, potentially extending its strategic reach across parts of the Middle East. Some assessments referenced in the report suggested that, depending on system specifications, testing infrastructure of this nature could have wider regional implications.
However, the report noted differing expert views, with some analysts saying the facility is intended strictly for space launch activities and civilian aerospace development, consistent with Türkiye’s stated national space programme objectives.
The project comes amid evolving regional alignments in the Horn of Africa, where external powers have increased their economic and security presence in recent years.
Somali authorities, including the government of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, have previously described cooperation with Türkiye as part of efforts to rebuild national infrastructure, expand technical capacity, and strengthen international partnerships.
The report highlighted that while the spaceport is officially framed as a civilian space initiative, its dual-use potential has drawn attention from regional observers given rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
Neither Turkish nor Somali officials have publicly confirmed any military use of the facility beyond its stated civilian space programme objectives.
