Turkish parliament approves two-year military mission extension in Somalia
Turkey’s parliament has approved a two-year extension of its military mission in Somalia, allowing Turkish forces to continue supporting counterterrorism, anti-piracy and security operations until 2028 as Ankara reinforces its long-standing defense partnership with Mogadishu.
MOGADISHU (Somali Report) — Turkey’s parliament has approved a two-year extension of the country’s military mission in Somalia, allowing Turkish forces to continue supporting operations against terrorism, piracy, illegal fishing, smuggling and other security threats as Ankara deepens its long-standing security partnership with Mogadishu.
The Turkish Grand National Assembly approved the presidential motion during a session chaired by Deputy Speaker Celal Adan, extending the mandate from July 27, 2026, to July 27, 2028. The extension renews an authorization first granted by parliament in July 2024.
The approval follows President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s request to parliament last week to extend the deployment, arguing that Somalia’s security and stability remain critical to regional peace and that continued Turkish support is needed to help Somali authorities counter terrorism and other security challenges.
Under the renewed mandate, Erdogan is authorized to determine the size, scope, location and timing of Turkish military deployments. Turkish personnel may operate in Somalia, its maritime jurisdiction and other areas jointly identified by Ankara and Mogadishu. The mandate also permits cooperation with third countries and international organizations in accordance with bilateral agreements and international law.
The parliamentary motion says Turkey has maintained broad political, economic, social and security cooperation with Somalia since 2011, earning the trust of the Somali people through sustained engagement. It says military training, technical assistance and advisory activities continue under agreements covering military training, defense industry cooperation and military financing.
Turkey has played a central role in rebuilding Somalia’s security institutions through training and advisory support. Its largest overseas military training facility is located in Mogadishu, where Turkish instructors have trained thousands of Somali soldiers over the past decade.
The motion notes that while Somalia’s security forces have sufficient personnel and resources, economic constraints continue to limit their operational effectiveness. It says the Somali government requested continued Turkish assistance under the bilateral Defense and Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement, including support against terrorism, piracy, illegal fishing, smuggling and other security threats.
It also says the mission contributes to protecting maritime areas that are strategically important for Turkish foreign trade and international shipping, including the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea and nearby waters, where piracy and armed attacks continue to pose risks to regional and global commerce.
During parliamentary debate, former Turkish ambassador to Somalia Cemalettin Kani Torun said lawmakers should not view the measure as a routine extension of an overseas military mission.
“I see Somalia not through a file, but through the years I spent there,” Torun told parliament.
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He said Turkey’s influence in Somalia rests not only on its military presence but also on the confidence it has built among Somali political and social actors.
“Every step taken in Somalia must preserve the trust Turkey has built so far,” he said.
“Because our greatest strength in Somalia is not our military presence, but the trust all parties have in us.”
Torun said Ankara had distinguished itself from other foreign powers by avoiding externally imposed political solutions and refraining from openly supporting one Somali faction over another.
“We never offered ready-made prescriptions to Somalis, nor did we follow a policy of supporting one group against another,” he said.
“On the contrary, we tried to create a space where Somalis could decide their own future.”
The extension comes as Somalia’s security transition faces mounting financial uncertainty. The African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) is under pressure after the United States informed the African Union earlier this month that it would oppose continued U.N. logistical support for the mission beyond Dec. 31, 2026.
AUSSOM continues to support Somali forces in operations against al-Shabab, the al-Qaida-linked militant group that controls parts of rural southern and central Somalia and regularly carries out deadly attacks.
Turkey has become one of Somalia’s closest international partners over the past decade, providing military training, infrastructure investment, humanitarian assistance and development support. The renewed mandate underscores Ankara’s intention to remain a key security partner as Somalia works to strengthen its own security forces and gradually reduce dependence on African Union troops.
About the Author
Fatuma Taxadar Yusuf is the Editor-in-Chief of Somali Report. She was the first woman to serve as an editor and media managing director in Somalia’s Puntland State. Previously, she worked with the BBC World Service and other leading media organizations in Somalia. She also serves as Deputy Chairperson of the Somalia Media Council, an independent body that regulates media standards and professional conduct in Somalia.