By Mohamed A. Amir. - Former Mogadishu Mayor & Governor of Banadir (BRA)
“For many Somalis, Türkiye did not arrive as a distant ally offering words from afar, but as a partner that stood beside Somalia through years of hardship, helping rebuild hope, institutions, and confidence in the future”.
For many Somalis, the relationship between Türkiye and Somalia is more than diplomacy. It is a story of solidarity, trust, and standing together during some of Somalia’s most difficult years.
When much of the world viewed Somalia only through the lens of conflict, instability, and humanitarian crisis, Türkiye chose a different path. Instead of keeping its distance, it stepped forward with humanitarian support, long-term investment, and a vision that treated Somalia not as a forgotten state, but as a nation capable of rebuilding and rising again.
Over the past decade, this partnership has grown into one of the most important international relationships Somalia has today.
Türkiye’s role began with humanitarian assistance during periods of severe drought and famine, when thousands of Somali families urgently needed help.
Turkish aid organizations, medical teams, and charities became visible on the ground, providing food, healthcare, education, and emergency support to vulnerable communities. What made this different was not only the assistance itself, but the consistency and sincerity behind it. Somalis saw action rather than promises.
That trust deepened through infrastructure development and investment. Roads, public buildings, schools, and critical services were rebuilt with Turkish support, helping restore confidence in the possibility of a functioning modern state.
One of the clearest symbols of this partnership is the Mogadishu Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Training and Research Hospital (Ex Digfeer), which has become one of the most advanced healthcare institutions in the country. For thousands of Somali families, the hospital represents dignity, modern healthcare, and hope close to home.
Türkiye also invested heavily in Somalia’s future through education and capacity building. Scholarships, technical training programs, and institutional cooperation have helped develop a new generation of Somali professionals, administrators, engineers, doctors, and security personnel.
Capacity-building programs have strengthened government institutions and supported Somalia’s efforts to rebuild effective public services after decades of collapse.
Security cooperation has become another important pillar of the relationship.
Through the TURKSOM military training facility in Mogadishu, Somali security forces have received professional training aimed at helping the country build a capable national army able to defend its people and institutions.
Turkish support in counter-terrorism operations, including the deployment of air assets and military cooperation, has reinforced Somalia’s ongoing fight against extremist groups threatening peace and stability.
At the same time, Türkiye’s engagement has expanded into strategic economic sectors that could shape Somalia’s long-term future. Discussions and cooperation in hydrocarbon exploration, energy development, and the blue economy reflect growing confidence in Somalia’s untapped economic potential.
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With one of the longest coastlines in Africa, Somalia possesses enormous opportunities in fisheries, maritime trade, offshore resources, and logistics. Turkish partnerships in these areas are helping Somalia think beyond recovery and toward sustainable economic transformation.
Emerging projects, including interest in space and technology cooperation such as a possible Somali spaceport initiative, also symbolize a shift in how Somalia is increasingly viewed, not simply as a fragile country managing crises, but as a country with strategic geographic and economic importance.
Beyond economics and security, one of the most valued aspects of Türkiye’s approach has been its political support for Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Across international platforms, Türkiye has consistently supported Somalia’s unity, independence, and right to determine its own future.
For many Somalis, this has carried enormous significance in a region often shaped by competing geopolitical interests.
High-level bilateral visits between leaders of both countries have further strengthened these ties.
These visits have not only produced agreements and investments but have also created a sense of mutual respect between the two nations. Somalis often remember that Turkish leaders visited Mogadishu at times when many others would not.
Of course, Somalia’s recovery remains a difficult and ongoing journey. Serious challenges still exist, including security threats, institutional weakness, unemployment, and political tensions. But partnerships matter in times of rebuilding, and Türkiye has positioned itself as a partner willing to invest in Somalia’s long-term stability rather than engage only during moments of crisis.
That is why many Somalis see the Turkiye-Somalia relationship as something deeper than ordinary foreign policy. It is viewed as a partnership built during hardship, strengthened through action, and sustained by mutual respect.
In a world where international relationships are often driven purely by short-term interests, the bond between Somalia and Türkiye stands out as an example of how trust can be earned through presence, consistency, and shared hope for the future.
Mohamed A. Amir.
is the former Mogadishu Mayor & Governor of Banadir (BRA)
Email:mamiir@gmail.com
*The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Dawan Africa.