Turkey just doubled down on its military commitment in Somalia, sending 150 more trainers in early 2024 to work alongside the Somali National Army. These troops join the 1,000 already stationed at the Turkish-run naval base in Mogadishu, a facility that gives Ankara direct oversight of Somalia’s coastal security. The base, opened in 2017, has become Turkey’s largest overseas military outpost, and its expansion fits a pattern: Ankara now trains roughly 20,000 Somali soldiers since 2011, making Turkey the single biggest foreign military trainer in the country. The goal’s straightforward—build a Somali force capable of defending against al-Shabaab, the Islamist insurgency that still controls large parts of southern Somalia. But the timing couldn’t be worse. Somalia’s last presidential election in 2022 was so chaotic that protests turned deadly, and the country’s still stuck in a political limbo that weakens its government just as Turkey’s pushing for deeper military control. The president’s term expired in February 2024, and despite a provisional agreement to hold elections in August, clan disputes and delays mean the process is already months behind. That instability makes it easier for Turkey’s rivals to chip away at its influence. Israel’s quietly doing exactly that. According to Somali intelligence sources and regional diplomats, Israel has been quietly funding clan-based militias in southern Somalia for the past two years. These groups aren’t strong enough to take on al-Shabaab directly, but they’re effective at harassing Turkish-backed Somali troops and sabotaging Ankara’s efforts to stabilize coastal areas. One Somali MP told Reuters the militias receive Israeli weapons and cash through intermediaries in Djibouti and Eritrea, both of which have tense relations with Turkey over the Red Sea and Horn of Africa. The militias’ attacks on Turkish-trained units aren’t just random violence—they’re coordinated efforts to make Somalia look ungovernable, which weakens Turkey’s claim that it’s the only power capable of bringing stability. Turkey’s not taking this lying down. Ankara’s been quietly lobbying the African Union to recognize its naval base as a ‘regional security hub,’ which would give it legal cover to expand operations. It’s also pushing Somalia’s federal government to sign a defense pact that would let Turkish troops stay indefinitely, not just for training. The draft agreement, leaked to local media in June, includes clauses that allow Turkish forces to operate independently if they deem Somalia’s government ‘unable to provide security.’ Critics call it a backdoor for permanent occupation, while Ankara insists it’s just a necessary step to keep al-Shabaab from seizing Mogadishu. ## Israel’s shadow war in Somalia Israel’s not the only player sniffing around Somalia. The UAE has quietly ramped up aid to Puntland, the semi-autonomous region in northern Somalia that opposes Turkey’s central government allies. The UAE funds Puntland’s coast guard, which now operates alongside Turkish ships in counter-piracy patrols—officially a partnership, but one that gives Abu Dhabi a toehold in Somali politics. Meanwhile, Qatar has spent years bankrolling Mogadishu’s government, but it’s increasingly frustrated with Turkey’s military dominance. Doha’s been pushing for a ‘Somalia-led’ security plan, which Ankara sees as code for kicking Turkey out. The rivalry’s playing out in the open now. In May, Somali security forces—backed by Turkish advisors—raided a UAE-funded aid warehouse in Mogadishu, accusing it of harboring Israeli intelligence operatives. The UAE called it a ‘provocation,’ while Turkey’s foreign minister dismissed the claim as ‘fake news designed to distract.’ But the real distraction might be the Somali public. Polls show most Somalis support Turkey’s military help against al-Shabaab, but they’re split on whether Ankara’s long-term presence is a good idea. Many fear it turns Somalia into a battleground for foreign powers, not a sovereign state. The election chaos isn’t helping. Somalia’s current president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, won a controversial second term in 2022 after a delayed vote and clan disputes. His government’s fragile, and his term technically ended in February 2024, but he’s still in office because no one can agree on new elections. The delay’s given Turkey room to maneuver, but it’s also exposed how little control Mogadishu actually has over its own territory. ## What’s next for Somalia and Turkey? Turkey’s military footprint in Somalia is now bigger than America’s and China’s combined. But size doesn’t equal security. Al-Shabaab’s still launching daily attacks, and the group’s now using drones smuggled through Yemen, a sign it’s adapting faster than Somali troops can. Ankara’s betting that more training, better equipment, and a permanent base will turn the tide, but the election stalemate and Israel’s proxy war make that a risky bet. The bigger question is whether Somalia’s government can survive long enough to accept Ankara’s long-term deal—or if Turkey’s forced to cut its losses before the next crisis hits.

What You Need to Know

  • Source: RFI
  • Published: May 16, 2026 at 11:09 UTC
  • Category: World
  • Topics: #rfi · #france · #world-news · #war · #military · #defense

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Curated by GlobalBR News · May 16, 2026

🇧🇷 Resumo em Português

A Turquia intensifica sua presença militar na Somália em um movimento estratégico que acirra a rivalidade com Israel no Chifre da África, região cada vez mais disputada por potências regionais e globais. Com o envio de mais tropas, treinamentos e equipamentos, Ancara reforça laços com o governo somali, enquanto Tel Aviv vê com preocupação o avanço de uma influência que desafia seus interesses na região.

O estreitamento de laços entre Turquia e Somália não é apenas uma jogada geopolítica, mas também uma resposta à crescente presença de Israel no leste africano. A Somália, mergulhada em décadas de instabilidade, tornou-se um ponto crucial para a projeção de poder, especialmente após a descoberta de recursos naturais e a luta contra grupos jihadistas. Para o Brasil, que mantém relações diplomáticas com ambos os países, a situação serve como um alerta sobre os riscos de uma escalada militar em uma região já marcada por conflitos. Além disso, a aproximação entre Ancara e Mogadíscio pode redefinir alianças no continente, afetando interesses brasileiros em segurança e comércio.

Se a Turquia consolidar sua posição na Somália, o cenário poderá se tornar ainda mais complexo, com possíveis reflexos em outras nações africanas e até mesmo em diásporas turcas e israelenses pelo mundo.

🇪🇸 Resumen en Español

Turquía estrecha su alianza militar con Somalia en un movimiento estratégico que redefine el tablero geopolítico del Cuerno de África. La creciente cooperación entre ambos países, con Ankara reforzando su presencia con asesores, entrenamiento y equipamiento, llega en un momento de máxima tensión con Israel, país que también ha intensificado sus lazos con Mogadiscio en los últimos meses.

El escenario adquiere relevancia para los hispanohablantes al situarse en un contexto de pugna por esferas de influencia en una región clave para el control del comercio marítimo y la estabilidad global. Para España, con intereses históricos y económicos en el Mediterráneo y África, este aumento de la presencia turca —aliada clave en la OTAN— podría alterar el equilibrio regional, especialmente si la rivalidad con Israel escala. Además, la implicación de actores como Turquía, que ha demostrado ser un socio militar activo en el Sahel, subraya la necesidad de que Europa y Latinoamérica presten atención a un tablero donde las alianzas cambian con rapidez.