Mogadishu, Somalia – April 9, 2025 — In a landmark shift signaling deeper military cooperation, Turkish special forces have joined the Somali National Army (SNA) on the frontlines in the fight against the Al-Shabaab insurgency. This marks the first time since Turkey’s initial involvement in Somalia in 2011 that its military personnel have taken an active combat role on Somali soil.

Witnesses and military sources confirm that Turkish elite units were deployed alongside SNA troops in the Middle Shabelle region, a current hotspot in the Somali government’s intensified offensive to retake territory from the Al-Qaeda-affiliated group.

The move underscores Turkey’s growing commitment to Somalia’s stabilization efforts, building on years of military training, infrastructure investment, and humanitarian aid. Since the historic visit of then-Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to Mogadishu in 2011, Ankara has steadily expanded its footprint in Somalia, including the establishment of Turkey’s largest overseas military base, Camp TURKSOM.

“This development marks a new phase in the Somali-Turkish partnership,” a senior Somali defense official told HornPulse. “Their presence on the battlefield sends a powerful message of solidarity and shared resolve.”

Analysts view the deployment as a strategic escalation aimed at both strengthening Somalia’s military capabilities and projecting Turkey’s influence in the Horn of Africa.

The joint operations come as Somalia ramps up its offensive against Al-Shabaab, with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud pledging to “eliminate the threat once and for all.”

Neither the Turkish Ministry of Defense nor Somali authorities have disclosed the exact number of Turkish troops involved or the duration of their deployment, citing operational security concerns.

The collaboration is expected to deepen in the coming months, as both nations continue to coordinate closely on counterterrorism operations and long-term security planning.

This development is likely to have significant geopolitical implications in the region, drawing attention from both allies and rivals as Turkey reaffirms its position as a key security partner in Africa.

— HornPulse Newsroom