By HAN News Desk
ANKARA — Somalia and Turkey are exploring ways to strengthen their long-standing maritime partnership as senior officials from both nations held talks in Ankara on Monday. Somalia’s Minister of Ports and Maritime Transport, Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, met with Turkey’s Defence Minister, Yaşar Güler, in discussions seen as part of wider efforts to expand cooperation in maritime security, trade, and port development.
Although neither side has issued an official statement, diplomatic sources say the talks focused on enhancing joint maritime operations, boosting the capacity of Somali naval forces, and improving infrastructure at key Somali ports. Both officials were described as optimistic about advancing cooperation across several strategic sectors. Turkey has been one of Somalia’s closest allies for more than a decade, providing military training, development assistance, and institutional support. The renewed focus on maritime cooperation comes at a sensitive moment for Mogadishu.
Analysts note that the timing of the meeting is significant. Somalia has been working to strengthen control over its territorial waters following Ethiopia’s controversial agreement with the self-declared republic of Somaliland last year. Under that deal — strongly rejected by Somalia — Ethiopia was to gain access to a 20-kilometre coastline for commercial shipping and naval use, in exchange for Addis Ababa signalling willingness to recognise Somaliland as an independent state. Mogadishu condemned the arrangement as an attack on its sovereignty, and the episode triggered regional tensions, prompting Somalia to intensify efforts to safeguard its maritime boundaries and seek international partnerships.
Somalia controls one of Africa’s most strategic coastlines, stretching along the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, waters critical for global shipping, anti-piracy operations, and commercial trade. Turkey already operates a major military training base in Mogadishu and has invested heavily in port and infrastructure development across the Horn of Africa. Strengthened maritime collaboration is expected to help Somalia enhance control over its waters, modernise its maritime forces, and support broader regional stability.
Although details of Monday’s discussions remain undisclosed, both governments are expected to outline new cooperation initiatives in the coming weeks. For now, the meeting highlights the growing strategic relationship between Somalia and Turkey at a time of shifting political and security dynamics in the Horn of Africa.
