500 Turkish ground forces arrive in Somalia amid al-Shabab attacks
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The troops are set to be deployed in the Middle Shabelle and Lower Shabelle regions, which have been under renewed attacks by al-Shabab.
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Turkey's army soldiers in a parade as part of celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of the creation of the modern, secular Turkish Republic, in Istanbul, Sunday, October 29, 2023 (AP)
Turkish ground troops have arrived in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, marking Turkey’s first military deployment to the East African nation. The contingent, comprising 500 soldiers, landed on Tuesday aboard two military aircraft.
The troops are set to be deployed in the Middle Shabelle and Lower Shabelle regions, areas that have witnessed renewed attacks by the al-Shabab militant group in recent weeks.
According to reports, al-Shabab has seized large swathes of territory in both regions and continues to push towards Mogadishu. The group's territorial gains have raised concerns about the security of the capital and the broader stability of the country.
Sources cited by the Ethiopian Observer indicated that the total number of Turkish troops expected to participate in this military operation could reach approximately 5,000 soldiers.
Foreign military presence in Somalia
Turkey’s deployment adds to the substantial foreign military presence in Somalia, where over 20,000 troops, mainly from Ethiopia, Djibouti, Uganda, and Kenya, have been stationed for nearly 17 years under various international mandates aimed at combating terrorism and supporting Somali security forces.
Egypt and Somalia have strengthened their ties in 2024 following Ethiopia's signing of a preliminary agreement with the breakaway region of Somaliland, which involves leasing coastal land in exchange for potential recognition of Somaliland's independence from Somalia.
In August 2024, Egypt sent Somalia its first batch of military aid in four decades, Reuters reported, citing three diplomatic and Somali government sources, in a move that is expected to exacerbate tensions between the two nations and Ethiopia.
The government in Mogadishu has denounced the deal as an attack on its sovereignty and vowed to thwart it by any means necessary, expelling Ethiopia's ambassador and recalling its own to Addis Ababa.
Souring regional ties
The government in Mogadishu has denounced the deal as an attack on its sovereignty and vowed to thwart it by any means necessary, expelling Ethiopia's ambassador and recalling its own to Addis Ababa.
Ethiopia, a landlocked nation, asserts its need for access to the sea, while Mogadishu maintains that Somaliland, which lacks international recognition, remains a part of Somalia.
Egypt, which has been in a long-standing dispute with Ethiopia over the construction of a massive hydroelectric dam on the Nile River, has also condemned the Somaliland agreement.
Earlier this month, Cairo signed a security pact with Mogadishu and has offered to deploy troops as part of a new peacekeeping mission in Somalia.
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