MOGADISHU, (HAN) – President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has announced that Somalia will become the first country in Africa to host a space launch facility, marking a historic step for the continent and a significant milestone in Somalia’s strategic partnership with Turkey.
Speaking today at the opening of the seventh session of the Federal Parliament, President Mohamud revealed plans for the construction of a spaceport on Somalia’s Indian Ocean coast, a project that will be jointly developed with the Turkish government.
“Somalia has become the first country in Africa where a space launch facility will be established,” President Mohamud declared, describing the project as a symbol of the growing strategic ties between Mogadishu and Ankara.
The project will be managed by the Turkish Space Agency (TUA) and is expected to cover an area of 900 square kilometers along Somalia’s coastline. Turkish media reports indicate that construction is set to begin within the coming weeks, with completion projected in two years.
In addition to launching satellites, the facility will also serve as a testing ground for advanced missiles developed by Turkey’s state-owned defense company Roketsan. Among these is the Tayfun missile, Turkey’s longest-range ballistic missile, which successfully reached a distance of 561 kilometers in 2022 and is expected to be extended to over 1,000 kilometers.
The spaceport forms part of the Defense and Economic Cooperation Agreement signed between Somalia and Turkey in February 2024. President Mohamud first announced the initiative in December of that year, highlighting it as a flagship project of the bilateral partnership.
The total cost of the project has been estimated at $350 million, though earlier reports suggested the figure could reach as high as $6 billion depending on future expansions. Financing is expected to include contributions not only from Turkey but also from other international partners, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
President Mohamud hailed the project as “a boost to Somalia’s global reputation” and “a major step forward in strengthening cooperation with Turkey in science, technology, and defense.”
If completed on schedule, the Somalia-Turkey spaceport would position Somalia at the center of Africa’s entry into the global space race while also deepening its role in regional security and technological advancement.
