Turkey Increases Air Assets, Trains Over 1,000 Somali Police Personnel, Ambassador Reveals

MOGADISHU — Turkish Ambassador to Mogadishu, Alper Aktaş, announced during Somalia’s National Internal Security Conference that Turkey has increased its air assets supporting counterterrorism operations at the request of Somali authorities .

Addressing the conference, which brought together senior government officials, security agencies, and representatives of federal member states to discuss strengthening Somalia’s security institutions and improving coordination, Ambassador Aktaş said the elite Gorgor special forces, trained at the TURKSOM military base in Mogadishu, continue to participate in operations against terrorist groups . Turkey has also trained more than 1,000 specialized personnel within the Somali Police Force, including Haramcad units, who are helping respond to security threats in Somali cities .

Highlighting Somalia’s significant security progress, Aktaş said the Çağrı Bey drilling vessel’s hydrocarbon exploration activities, fisheries investments and the planned spaceport project would contribute to the country’s economic development and security .

“Türkiye remains fully committed to supporting Somalia,” Aktaş said .

The conference, which opened on September 1, 2026, is being held at a critical time as Somalia prepares for the transition of security responsibilities from the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) to Somali forces by the end of 2026. The agenda is centered on three key areas: oversight of security institutions, coordination among agencies, and financial capacity .

Ambassador Aktaş said his more than two and a half years in Somalia had allowed him to witness changes in Mogadishu firsthand. “Just a few years ago, Mogadishu was associated with major explosions, instability and persistent conflict,” he said. “Today, we speak of rising skyscrapers, ambitious development projects and genuine hope.”

Turkey opened its largest overseas military base in Mogadishu in 2017 and provides training to both the Somali military and police. In May 2026, Turkey expanded its support for the Gorgor Commandos by providing training on main battle tanks and heavy armored platforms, with training activities conducted at the TURKSOM Military Training Academy in Mogadishu and commando schools in Isparta, Turkey. Turkey also delivered approximately 10 to 15 M48 and M60 Patton main battle tanks to Mogadishu aboard the TCG Sancaktar, marking the first time since the 1990s that the Somali National Army has regained tracked heavy armored capability.

Deepening Economic Cooperation

The ambassador argued that security gains would not be sustainable without economic progress. He linked Turkey’s security engagement to its growing involvement in Somalia’s energy, fisheries and infrastructure sectors .

The Çağrı Bey deep-sea drilling vessel arrived off Mogadishu in April 2026 to begin Turkey’s first overseas deep-sea oil exploration project. The operation aims to drill approximately 4,000 meters below the seabed and reach a total depth of 7,500 meters, which would make Curad-1 the world’s second-deepest offshore well . The operation follows an intergovernmental energy agreement signed in March 2024 covering the exploration, evaluation, development and production of oil and gas in Somalia’s offshore and onshore areas .

Somali Petroleum Authority Director General Abdulkadir Adan has said the drilling is progressing ahead of schedule and could be completed by the end of September. “Completion by the end of September is possible. October had previously been set as the target completion date,” he said .

Somalia and Turkey have also been advancing cooperation in fisheries and the blue economy. A high-level Turkish delegation led by Director General Turgay Türkyılmaz visited Mogadishu in July 2026 to discuss expanding technical and investment collaboration. The two sides also agreed to accelerate technical work related to the fisheries sector and assessed port infrastructure to support the fisheries project previously agreed between Somalia and Turkey.

However, the fisheries cooperation has faced political challenges. Puntland has rejected the federal fisheries licensing deal and warned foreign companies, expressing opposition to the SOMTURK company’s role in managing licensing processes linked to fisheries activities in Somalia’s exclusive economic zone.

Turkey is also constructing a spaceport in Somalia to ensure long-term and independent access to space. Somalia’s equatorial location provides geographic and payload advantages for rocket launches, and the facility has already attracted global commercial interest. The project is expected to create significant opportunities for Somali youth in science, technology, innovation, research, and other high-skilled sectors.

Critical Note

Ambassador Aktaş’s remarks at the National Internal Security Conference underscore Turkey’s deepening strategic partnership with Somalia, spanning security, defence, energy and economic development. Turkey’s expanded military support, including increased air assets, the deployment of main battle tanks, and the training of over 1,000 police personnel, demonstrates Ankara’s commitment to building Somalia’s security capacity.

However, the effectiveness of these contributions will depend on the Somali government’s ability to integrate and sustain them. The delivery of heavy armored vehicles raises questions about maintenance, logistics, and the capacity of Somali forces to operate and sustain these systems independently. The fisheries cooperation has already faced political challenges from Puntland, highlighting the need for federal-regional coordination.

Turkey’s economic engagement, including the oil exploration, fisheries investments, and spaceport project, offers significant potential for Somalia’s development. However, the outcomes of the drilling operation and the implementation of these projects remain uncertain. The government must ensure that these partnerships are transparent, accountable, and serve the long-term interests of the Somali people, rather than enriching a narrow elite.