WAJ: Türkiye preparing to send special forces to Somalia?

Two senior Somali military and diplomatic sources have confirmed that Somalia and Türkiye are on the verge of finalizing a groundbreaking defense agreement that could reshape the security landscape of the Horn of Africa.

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is currently in Türkiye for high-level discussions, with expectations of signing new defense pacts that will significantly boost Somalia’s fight against Al-Shabaab, Caliber.Az reports, citing The Wall Africa Journal.

For the first time, Türkiye is set to deploy hundreds of special forces to Somalia, providing direct military support in operations against the terrorist group. These elite troops will be equipped with advanced Turkish military technology, making this the largest NATO-member military involvement in Somalia’s internal security operations.

One of the most critical developments under discussion is the establishment of a joint military base in the Middle Shabelle region, a current hotspot in the battle against Al-Shabaab. Additionally, Somalia’s military training programs will be fully integrated under Türkiye’s supervision, ending previous arrangements where Somali troops were trained in multiple foreign countries.

In a dramatic turn, President Mohamud is expected to declare a state of emergency upon his return to Somalia, signaling the government’s intent to escalate its military campaign.

If finalized, this defense pact would mark a historic deepening of Somalia-Türkiye military cooperation, further solidifying Türkiye’s strategic role in the Horn of Africa.

By Khagan Isayev