Türkiye’s parliament approves two-year extension of military mission in Somalia

Wednesday July 22, 2026

Turkish marine forces stand guard aboard the Turkish Navy Ship F514 after it docked at the Mogadishu Sea Port, Mogadishu, Somalia, April 23, 2024. (Reuters Photo)

Ankara (HOL) — Türkiye’s Parliament on Tuesday approved President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s request to extend the deployment of Turkish armed forces in Somalia for another two years, beginning July 27, 2026.

The approval allows Turkish military personnel to remain in Somalia until July 2028 under bilateral agreements between the two countries.

The deployment is intended to support Somalia’s efforts to combat terrorism, piracy, illegal fishing, smuggling and other security threats.

The mandate says the mission will be carried out in line with U.N. Security Council resolutions and international law. Its scope, size and operational areas will be determined by Erdogan.

In its request to Parliament, the Turkish presidency said Somalia had sought continued military assistance under the Defence and Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement signed by the two countries.

It said the mission would help Somalia protect its economic resources, strengthen the operational capacity of its defence and security forces and gradually enable the country to maintain security through its own institutions.

The Turkish government said Somalia’s security is important not only for the country but also for the wider Horn of Africa and key maritime routes linking the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean.

It said the deployment would contribute to efforts to secure one of the world’s busiest international shipping corridors.

Under the mandate, Turkish forces may operate in jointly designated areas, including Somalia’s maritime jurisdiction, under rules agreed by both governments.

The mission may also involve cooperation with third countries and international organizations where necessary.

Türkiye has maintained close ties with Somalia since 2011, providing humanitarian assistance, infrastructure investment and development aid while expanding defense cooperation.

The two countries have signed agreements covering military training, technical and scientific cooperation, defense industry collaboration and military financial assistance.

Ankara operates its largest overseas military training base in Mogadishu, where it has trained thousands of Somali soldiers as part of efforts to rebuild Somalia’s armed forces and counter al-Shabab.

In 2024, Türkiye and Somalia signed a Defence and Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement, under which Ankara expanded support for Somalia’s maritime security and defense capabilities.

Government lawmakers said the extension reflected Türkiye’s growing role in regional security and its defense cooperation with Somalia at the request of the internationally recognized government.

They said the mission is part of Türkiye’s broader engagement in Africa and aims to help Somalia develop self-sustaining security institutions while contributing to regional stability and protecting strategic maritime trade routes.

The approval comes as Somalia and Türkiye’s state-owned oil company Turkish Petroleum continue drilling the Curad-1 oil well off Somalia’s coast.

Somali officials have said the first exploration results from Curad-1 are expected by the end of 2026. Curad-1, located about 372 kilometers northeast of Mogadishu, is the first offshore oil well officially drilled in Somalia.

The operation follows a series of 3D seismic surveys conducted in three offshore blocks, which led to the start of drilling at the site.

The well is planned to reach a depth of nearly 7,500 meters and could take up to 288 days to complete, making it one of the deepest offshore oil wells in the world.

– With files from the TRT