Türkiye deploys military to Somalia for years to combat terrorism

The Turkish parliament has approved a motion by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to deploy military forces in Somalia for 2 years. This mission aims to support Somalia’s fight against terrorism and other threats, under the existing Türkiye-Somalia defense cooperation agreement.

A decade of support

Türkiye has been providing training, assistance, and advisory support to Somalia for over a decade. The focus has been on ensuring security, stability, and restructuring Somalia’s defense and security forces to combat terrorism effectively.

Combating piracy and maritime threats

Since 2009, the Turkish military has actively participated in international efforts to combat piracy, armed robbery, and maritime terrorism in the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea, and adjacent regions. This support is based on the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation and a UN Security Council resolution from December 16, 2008.

Recent developments

• Mandate extension: The Turkish parliament extended the mission mandate for another year on January 17.
• Task force command: Türkiye will command Combined Task Force-151 for the seventh time starting in July.

Somalia’s security challenges

Despite having adequate personnel and resources, Somalia’s defense and security forces face significant challenges due to economic constraints. The Somali government aims to control maritime areas and integrate resources into the economy, which will help enhance the capacity of its security forces and other state institutions.

Aligning with Somalia’s security sector development plan

The mission aligns with the Somali Security Sector Development Plan, adopted at the Somalia Security Conference co-hosted by Turkey in New York on December 12, 2023. The plan aims for Somalia to take full responsibility for its security in the near future.