By Mohamed Abdi - Reporter
ANKARA — Turkish Parliament has approved a two-year extension of the mandate allowing the country’s armed forces to operate in Somalia from July 27, 2026 to July 2028.
Turkish forces will support Somalia’s security operations against Al-Shabaab, ISIS, piracy, illegal fishing, smuggling and other threats.
The motion, submitted to Parliament by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, stated that Somalia’s security and stability are important to the entire region, particularly the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean.
The Turkish government said Somalia had formally requested military assistance under defence, economic and security cooperation agreements between the two countries.
Under the mandate, Turkish forces may operate on Somali territory and within maritime areas jointly designated by the two governments. The number of troops, the equipment they will use and the locations of their operations will be determined by the Turkish president.
Officials supporting the motion said extending Türkiye’s military presence would help strengthen the capacity of Somali forces, protect the country’s natural resources and secure important maritime trade and transportation routes.
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Fatih Dönmez, a member of Parliament from the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AK Parti, said the mission was not intended to provide only temporary security assistance.
He said the broader objective was to help Somali forces develop the ability to independently secure the country, its territorial waters and its natural resources.
However, some opposition parties expressed concern about the decision and called on the government to disclose the number of troops to be deployed, the cost of the mission and whether Turkish forces could become directly involved in fighting Al-Shabaab.
The Turkish government maintained that its presence in Somalia was based on a request from the Federal Government of Somalia, bilateral agreements between the two countries, international law and relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.
The approval means that military and security cooperation between Somalia and Türkiye will continue until at least July 27, 2028.