Somalia, Turkey deepen strategic partnership with political, defense deals
A similar agreement is set to be signed with Ethiopia’s ruling Prosperity Party (PP) in Addis Ababa on Friday.
Turkey has deepened its ties with Somalia and Ethiopia through political agreements aimed at fostering bilateral cooperation and strengthening partnerships in governance, trade, and security.
On Wednesday, Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) signed a memorandum of understanding with Somalia’s ruling Union for Peace and Development Party (UPD) in Ankara. The agreement was formalised during a meeting between AKP’s deputy chairman, Zafer Sirakaya, and UPD secretary-general Abdurahman Mohamed Hussein.
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A similar agreement is set to be signed with Ethiopia’s ruling Prosperity Party (PP) in Addis Ababa on Friday, according to Turkish officials.
The agreements will enable joint research, training, consultations, and information sharing between the political parties, reflecting Turkey’s intent to share its governance experience with its East African allies.
Turkey has positioned itself as a neutral mediator in the region, particularly in the wake of heightened tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia following Ethiopia’s 2024 naval agreement with Somaliland, the self-declared breakaway republic.
A source familiar with the matter told Middle East Eye that Turkey initially planned to sign the cooperation deal with Ethiopia last year but postponed it to avoid appearing biased in the diplomatic dispute.
In December, Turkey hosted negotiations between Somalia and Ethiopia, resulting in a memorandum affirming Somalia’s territorial integrity and setting the stage for discussions on granting Ethiopia access to the sea.
Despite this agreement, tensions persist, particularly as Somalia continues to strengthen ties with Egypt, a nation that has disputes with Ethiopia over Nile water resources.
Tunc Demirtas, a regional expert with the Ankara-based think tank Seta, highlighted Somalia’s significance in Turkey’s approach to the Horn of Africa.
“What stands out here is that [Ankara] does not take any step in the region without considering Somalia. Somalia is included in every process,” he told Middle East Eye.
Turkey is also expected to extend its outreach to Djibouti, with the AKP delegation led by Sirakaya set to sign a similar memorandum of understanding there next week.
Close relationship
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has maintained a close relationship with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, strengthened by Ankara’s sale of armed drones to Ethiopia in 2021. These drones played a crucial role in helping Ethiopian forces push back insurgent advances in the capital.
Turkey’s involvement in Somalia is even more extensive. Ankara operates a large military base in Mogadishu, while Turkish companies manage key infrastructure, including the city’s port and airport. Amid its strained ties with Ethiopia, Somalia deepened its security cooperation with Turkey in February by signing a defence and economic agreement.
Under this agreement, Turkey committed to training, equipping, and building the Somali Navy while also securing the country’s territorial waters.
Additionally, Turkey secured rights to explore energy resources along Somalia’s coastline, further solidifying its strategic presence in the region.
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