MOGADISHU — Türkiye is reportedly preparing to deploy two naval vessels, TCG Kemalreis and TCG Yüzbaşı Güngör Durmuş, to the Horn of Africa as part of its growing military and maritime cooperation with Somalia.
According to the information provided, the two vessels are scheduled to visit Djibouti from September 3 to 4, before supporting maritime operations linked to Somalia. The mission is expected to focus on logistical support, maritime security and assistance to the Somali Navy.
The deployment comes amid expanding Turkish military involvement in Somalia. Türkiye has already operated naval task groups in waters off Somalia and the Gulf of Aden, including missions involving the TCG Yüzbaşı Güngör Durmuş, a logistics support and replenishment vessel.
The TCG Kemalreis, a Barbaros-class frigate, is a major Turkish Navy combat vessel equipped for a range of maritime missions. The TCG Yüzbaşı Güngör Durmuş serves primarily as a logistics support and replenishment ship, making the two-vessel combination suitable for sustained operations at sea.
The reported deployment also comes following the hijacking of the MV Lutuf, with Türkiye’s Ministry of National Defence said to have expressed its readiness to provide necessary assistance to Somalia in cooperation with the Somali government.
The maritime cooperation forms part of a broader defence relationship between Ankara and Mogadishu. Türkiye has been providing Somalia with military training, equipment and operational support, while also assisting efforts to strengthen the capabilities of the Somali Navy and protect the country’s maritime interests.
Recent Turkish naval deployments have also supported offshore energy activities and the transportation of military assistance to Somalia, reflecting the expanding strategic importance of Somalia’s coastline and territorial waters.
The latest reported deployment would further underline Türkiye’s growing role in Somalia’s maritime security, particularly as Mogadishu works to strengthen its naval capabilities and improve security along its extensive coastline.
The planned Djibouti visit on September 3–4 is therefore expected to serve as an important logistical and operational stop before the vessels continue their regional mission.
Note: I could not independently verify from an official Turkish Defence Ministry source the specific September 3–4 Djibouti visit or the reported MV Lutuf assistance statement, so those details should be attributed as reports until officially confirmed.
