Somali Guardian: Türkiye pledges 15,000 troops to Somalia under defense deal

Somali Guardian reported that Türkiye committed to deploy 15,000 troops to Somalia before January 2027 after Uganda began withdrawing its forces. Neither Türkiye nor Somalia has officially confirmed the figure.

Somali Guardian reported that Türkiye committed to deploy 15,000 troops to Somalia. In a November 6 report citing Gaylan Media, the Somali news website wrote that the Turkish troops were expected to be deployed before January 2027 under a bilateral defense agreement between the two countries.

According to the report, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud requested a total of 20,000 troops from allied countries after Uganda unexpectedly began withdrawing its forces. Somali Guardian reported that Türkiye responded to the request with 15,000 troops, who would serve in the cities of Barawe and Baidoa, as well as in Mogadishu and its surrounding areas.

At the time the report was published, the figure of 15,000 troops had not been officially confirmed by either Türkiye, including the Ministry of National Defence or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or the Somali government. Neither side had issued an official statement regarding Somali Guardian's report. At its weekly press briefing on November 5, one day before the report, the Ministry of National Defence only announced that the TCG Gökçeada and TCG Yıldırım frigates, which had departed on October 30 to transport supplies by sea and carry out a crew rotation, would make a port visit to Djibouti on November 8–9.

Uganda's military announced on November 2 that it had begun withdrawing the troops it deployed in Somalia under a bilateral agreement. Uganda said all its troops in Somalia, including those serving under the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), would leave the country by the end of 2027.

The legal framework of the defense partnership

Türkiye and Somalia signed a 10-year Defense and Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement on February 8, 2024. Its objectives include protecting Somalia's maritime jurisdiction areas, combating piracy and illegal fishing, developing the capacity of the Somali naval forces and supporting Somalia's economic exploitation of its maritime resources.

The deployment of Turkish Armed Forces personnel in Somalia was authorized by a decision of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye dated July 27, 2024. On July 21, 2026, the Assembly extended the authorization for two years from July 27, 2026, through a motion it adopted. The motion provides for Turkish Armed Forces personnel to be deployed, including in maritime jurisdiction areas, in locations to be jointly determined by the two countries, to support Somalia's security against terrorism, piracy, illegal fishing and smuggling. The scope, limits, size and timing of the mission were left to the discretion of the president.

From TURKSOM to Somalia's waters

At the center of Türkiye's military presence in Somalia is TURKSOM, which opened in Mogadishu on September 30, 2017. Türkiye's largest military training facility abroad, TURKSOM trains officers and noncommissioned officers of the Somali National Army, as well as elite Gorgor commando units. The 22nd Gorgor Commando Brigade also completed its advanced training program in Türkiye this week.

Military contacts between the two countries are also continuing. Somali Defense Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi received a delegation from the Turkish General Staff, headed by Sebahattin Kılınç, in Mogadishu on November 4. According to a statement by Somalia's Ministry of Defense, the meeting addressed strengthening strategic defense and security cooperation, the security situation in the Horn of Africa and the fight against terrorism. Fiqi praised Türkiye's support for Somalia's counterterrorism efforts. The ministry's statement did not include information on the number of troops.

Somali Deniz Görev Grubu fırkateyni, Mustafa Korkmaz A balıkçı gemisine refakat ediyor

Cooperation is also continuing at sea. In a November 4 post, the Ministry of National Defence announced that, as part of Somali Naval Task Group activities, the TCG Gökçeada and TCG Yıldırım frigates were escorting and protecting the fishing vessel Mustafa Korkmaz A, which was scheduled to conduct reconnaissance and trial fishing in Somalia's exclusive economic zone. The frigates were also continuing their passage to Mogadishu for a crew rotation.

Source: Somali Guardian. Photo: Ministry of National Defence

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Somali Guardian: Türkiye pledges 15,000 troops to Somalia under defense deal