Africa

Somalia President Hassan Sheikh officially signs Turkey defence deal

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud signs the ratified Defense and Economic Cooperation Agreement with Turkey on February 22, 2024. (Photo: X/ Hassan Sheikh Mohamud)

By Yunis Dekow and Mwangi Maina | Thursday, February 22, 2024

The pact will help Somalia combat all forms of illegal activities and build a capable naval force essential for maritime security, President Hassan Sheikh Muhamud says.

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has signed the ratified Defence and Economic Cooperation Agreement with Turkey, praising it as a "new chapter in our nation's journey towards a secure and prosperous future".

The February 8, 2024 agreement will see Turkey train and provide equipment to the Somali Navy, helping Mogadishu protect its maritime resources and territorial waters from threats such as terrorism, piracy and foreign interference.

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Hassan officially signed the pact on Thursday, following approvals the day before by a bicameral meeting of the Parliament and the Cabinet.

"The agreement embodies a shared commitment to combating all forms of illegal activities and will enable us to build a capable naval force essential for our maritime security," he said.

"The pact will also bolster our blue economy, develop crucial economic sectors, and create opportunities for our people and the region. We are deeply grateful to the brotherly Republic of Türkiye (Turkey) for their unwavering and timely support and commitment to peace, stability, and prosperity in the region."

In a televised address on Wednesday, the Somali leader noted that the deal with Turkey is not aimed at confronting Ethiopia or invading any other country.

Ethiopia and Somalia have been feuding since January 1, 2024, over the former's controversial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia.

Ethiopia, led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, is seeking sea access for commercial maritime services and a military base while Somaliland wants recognition as an independent state and a stake in Ethiopian Airlines.

Both Hassan and Abiy insist they are seeking a peaceful resolution but they have taken some actions against each other and issued stern statements defending their positions.

At the just-ended 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union, for instance, Abiy expressed frustration after unsuccessfully attempting to engage Hassan since the signing of the port agreement with Somaliland.

The PM emphasised his efforts to meet his counterpart as a "friend" and "neighbour" to address the issue, saying Addis Ababa tried to reach out to Hassan Sheikh through the Djiboutian leader and IGAD chair, Ismail Guelleh, for a meeting in Djibouti, but the efforts were unsuccessful.

At the summit, the Somali leader accused Ethiopia of attempting to annex part of his country's territory.

Hassan has said in the past that he does not want a war while Abiy has dismissed the possibility of armed conflict, stating that he also has "no intention" of going to war.