Türkiye will deploy 500 additional special forces to Somalia as part of a broader military and energy partnership, stepping in to support Somali security forces as African Union peacekeeping operations scale down.

The announcement followed a phone call between Presidents Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. The move coincides with the African Union’s transition from ATMIS to the new African Union Security Support Mission in Somalia (AUSSS), a mission facing critical funding shortages.

With traditional donor support declining, Somali leaders are increasingly turning to strategic partners like Türkiye for security and development assistance.

Energy Security and Maritime Expansion

The troop deployment aligns with Ankara’s broader ambitions in the Red Sea and Horn of Africa. Under a 10-year bilateral agreement ratified by Somalia’s parliament earlier this year, Türkiyeis tasked with training Somali forces, guarding critical infrastructure, and supporting offshore energy exploration.

Türkiye’s seismic research ship MTA Oruc Reis is actively surveying Somali waters for oil and gas reserves, making security for these operations a top priority.

Regional Implications and Strategic Depth

Security analysts say the deployment could help stabilize Somalia’s fragmented security landscape and limit Al-Shabaab’s resurgence. One regional expert noted, “Turkey’s decisive involvement in Libya and Ethiopia suggests it could bring similar leverage to Somalia.”

Ankara's growing influence also reflects a shift in regional geopolitics as Gulf nations and the West recalibrate their roles in East Africa.