MOGADISHU, (HAN) – Türkiye is intensifying its military engagement in Somalia, underscoring both the country’s strategic importance and Ankara’s expanding influence across the Horn of Africa.
Footage released by the Turkish Ministry of Defence shows Turkish officers providing advanced training to Somalia’s elite Gorgor unit in Mogadishu. The Gorgor, a special commando force within the Somali National Army (SNA), has emerged as one of the most effective units combating the Al-Shabaab insurgency, largely due to Turkish support.
Türkiye operates TURKSOM, its largest overseas military training base, in Mogadishu. Established in 2017, the facility trains thousands of Somali soldiers annually and serves as a hub for Ankara’s security and strategic operations in East Africa. The base has been instrumental in restructuring the Somali military, providing modern equipment, tactical instruction, and logistical support.
For Somalia, which has endured over three decades of conflict and remains one of the world’s most fragile states, Türkiye’s presence is a lifeline. The Somali government continues to battle Al-Shabaab, a powerful terrorist group controlling rural areas and frequently carrying out attacks in Mogadishu and beyond.
Türkiye’s engagement extends beyond military assistance. Ankara also provides humanitarian aid, infrastructure development, educational programs, and trade partnerships. This multi-faceted approach has strengthened Türkiye’s popularity in Somalia, setting it apart from other foreign interventions often viewed with skepticism.
Türkiye’s expanding role in Somalia also reflects broader geopolitical ambitions. By deepening ties with Mogadishu, Ankara secures a strategic foothold along the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, among the world’s busiest maritime routes. This position enhances Türkiye’s influence in a region increasingly shaped by competition among the UAE, Qatar, China, and the United States.
Somalia’s location, bridging Africa and the Middle East, makes it pivotal in contests over trade routes, military presence, and resource access. Analysts note that Türkiye’s engagement in Somalia complements its broader African strategy, which includes opening dozens of embassies and expanding trade and defense ties over the past two decades.
The Horn of Africa is increasingly a theater of international competition. Somalia’s instability, coupled with disputes such as the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and rivalries over ports, military bases, and political alliances, makes the region a potential flashpoint for future conflict.
Experts caution that while Türkiye’s support has strengthened Somalia’s military capacity, the involvement of multiple foreign powers raises the risk of the Horn of Africa becoming an arena for proxy struggles if diplomatic efforts fail.
