Türkiye’s Defense Ministry Rejects Reports of 15,000 Somalia Troops

Ankara has rejected reports that it is preparing a large new force for Somalia, after claims circulated that 15,000 Turkish soldiers would be sent at Mogadishu’s request.

“Claims that, at Somalia’s request, Türkiye will send 15,000 troops to Somalia do not reflect the truth,” the Ministry of National Defence said.

Answers Follow Weekly Briefing

The denial was issued after the ministry’s weekly press briefing on Thursday aboard TCG Savarona, moored at Istanbul Shipyard Command for Atatürk Commemoration Day and Atatürk Week.

Spokesperson Rear Admiral Zeki Aktürk delivered the briefing. The Somalia answer appeared in a later question-and-answer section, which the ministry published on its official X account.

In the same reply, the ministry said the Somalia-Türkiye Task Force and the Air Component Command stationed in Somalia “continue to contribute to developing Somalia’s counterterrorism capacity through military assistance, training and advisory activities.”

Origin of the 15,000 Figure

The 15,000 figure spread in early November after Gaylan Media, a Somali outlet, cited unnamed security sources as saying President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud had asked close allies for 20,000 troops. Somalia Guardian repeated the report, saying Türkiye had reportedly agreed to deploy 15,000 soldiers to Barawe, Baidoa and Mogadishu before January 2027 under a bilateral defense agreement.

Neither government confirmed those numbers at the time. Mogadishu has not issued a public statement matching the 15,000 figure.

The reports followed Uganda’s decision to begin pulling its forces out of Somalia. Uganda’s military said on Nov. 2 that the first troops deployed under a bilateral arrangement had already returned home and that all Ugandan forces, including those serving with the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia, would leave by the end of 2027.

Existing Mission Remains in Place

Türkiye opened TURKSOM, its largest overseas military training facility, in Mogadishu in 2017 and has since expanded training, advisory work and equipment support. Clash Report previously reported that Ankara had stationed F-16 jets in Mogadishu and, in 2025, announced plans to send 500 additional troops as African Union missions scaled down.

The two countries signed a 10-year Defense and Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement on Feb. 8, 2024, covering maritime security and support against terrorism, piracy and illegal fishing. Türkiye has also delivered T129 attack helicopters and other equipment under that partnership.

On Thursday, hours before the briefing, the ministry said Somali military personnel had completed commando basic training at the 8th Commando Training Brigade in Manisa and attended a graduation ceremony.

The ministry did not give a current headcount for Turkish forces in Somalia and did not say whether any smaller reinforcement is under consideration.