Turkiye starts construction of rocket launch facility in Somalia

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Bloomberg
18 Dec 2024 12:57
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Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud noted that the project would create jobs and generate revenue for the country.

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This handout photograph taken and released by the Turkish presidential press service on December 11, 2024, shows Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) greeting Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud at the Presidential Palace in Ankara (AFP)

Turkiye is constructing a rocket launch facility in Somalia, the president of the Horn of Africa nation revealed, marking a significant boost to Ankara’s long-range rocket testing capabilities, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday.

Speaking at an event in Mogadishu, Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud noted that the project would create jobs and generate revenue for the country.

Bloomberg highlighted in September Somalia’s strategic location at the easternmost point of mainland Africa, which offers an ideal trajectory for launches over the Indian Ocean, minimizing the risk of debris impacting residential areas or neighboring nations.

The media outlet pointed out that the construction of the facility in Somalia represents a major step forward in Turkiye’s ambitions to compete in the space race, a domain historically dominated by global powers.

Turkiye has been planning to launch a rocket for several years, although Mohamud did not reveal the specific location of the project, Bloomberg mentioned.

The President further stressed the importance of the initiative, stating, "I personally believe that the importance of Somalia hosting a launchpad for Turkish satellites is even more significant than the billions of dollars and opportunities that the project will generate."

Over the past decade, Turkiye has solidified its presence in Somalia through defense partnerships and infrastructure investments, while also pursuing hydrocarbon exploration in the region.

Additionally, Ankara has played a mediating role between the Somali government in Mogadishu and the leaders of Somaliland, a semi-autonomous region.

Turkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced Sunday that he will visit Ethiopia and Somalia in the first two months of next year.

Following a significant agreement negotiated by Turkiye that ended nearly a year of hostilities between the two African states over marine access to the Red Sea, Erdogan stated on Saturday that the breakthrough occurred after "a meeting that lasted seven hours."

Last week, Erdogan praised the Somalian President and Ethiopian Prime Minister for attaining "historic reconciliation with great dedication" during Ankara-mediated peace talks aimed at resolving their dispute over the breakaway Somaliland region.

"Thanks to their cooperation, we signed [the deal] and finished the job," Erdogan said at a youth gathering in the eastern region of Erzurum.