Tuesday July 22, 2025
FILE - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (L) and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (R) stand side by side during a ceremonial welcome in Ankara, Turkey, with the Turkish national flag in the background.
\Mogadishu (HOL) — Turkey is deepening its political, economic, and military presence in Somalia through new embassy infrastructure, sustained security cooperation, and aid commitments exceeding $1 billion, which has drawn both praise and scrutiny within the Turkish Parliament.
The Foreign Affairs Committee of Turkey’s Grand National Assembly on July 17 debated a protocol first signed in 2011, under which each country allocates land for the other’s embassy. The deal, titled the Protocol on the Mutual Allocation of Plots for Diplomatic Missions, was only submitted to parliament this month for ratification. It grants Turkey more than 61,000 square meters of land in Mogadishu, now the site of its largest embassy compound globally, while Turkey is building Somalia’s new chancery and ambassadorial residence on a 4,918-square-meter plot in Ankara’s prestigious Incek diplomatic enclave, symbolizing Turkey’s elevation of Somalia’s status.
But lawmakers raised pointed questions about the lack of transparency around the Somali embassy project. MP Utku Çakırözer questioned why Turkey was covering construction costs and what safeguards existed to prevent potential misuse of diplomatic property. “We are not only giving the land but also constructing the building,” Çakırözer said. “We don’t know the cost, nor do we know who will build it. Shouldn’t this be subject to stricter scrutiny?" He pressed for information on the procurement process and asked whether competitive bidding had taken place.
Fellow lawmaker Yunus Emre also expressed concern over accountability mechanisms. Foreign Ministry officials responded that the land could only be used for diplomatic purposes and that Turkey retains veto rights over any attempt to sell, rent, or repurpose the property. Any disputes would be resolved amicably and outside international courts, which they said was standard practice for bilateral protocols of this kind.
In his testimony, Refik Ali Onaner, director general for North and East Africa at the Turkish Foreign Ministry, said the Somali embassy project is being funded entirely by the ministry’s budget as a “gift” to Somalia—a symbolic act of friendship. He confirmed the Turkish government would fully cover architectural, construction, and outfitting costs.
Yılmaz acknowledged the criticism but emphasized the deal’s strategic utility. “This isn’t a typical bilateral relationship,” he said. “It’s a relationship built on a strategic alliance, and it positions Turkey as a key actor in the stabilization of the Horn of Africa.” He described the Mogadishu embassy as one of Turkey’s largest diplomatic hubs worldwide, exceeding even many of its NATO and EU mission compounds.
Turkey’s influence in Somalia has steadily grown since President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s 2011 visit to Mogadishu, then as prime minister. Since then, Ankara has become Somalia’s most visible foreign partner, operating across defence, development, and diplomacy.
The Turkish military’s largest overseas base, the Anatolia Barracks in Mogadishu, has trained more than 15,000 Somali troops since 2017. It plays a key role in Somalia’s fight against al-Shabab, according to Yılmaz. Just last week, on July 13, the Somali Turkish Task Force Command held a graduation ceremony for new soldiers at the base.
Complementing military assistance, Turkey’s development aid includes humanitarian relief via the Turkish Red Crescent, infrastructure projects through the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), and ongoing services at the Turkish-funded Mogadishu Teaching and Research Hospital.
However, Turkey’s security engagement has not been without controversy. In 2022, a United Nations Panel of Experts concluded that Turkey had violated the international arms embargo on Somalia by delivering Bayraktar TB2 drones on December 6, 2021. The drones were flown in aboard Turkish military Airbus A400M aircraft. The Turkish government failed to seek the required Security Council exemption, according to the panel.
Onaner told lawmakers that total Turkish aid to Somalia since 2011 exceeds $1.15 billion, with approximately $850 million directed toward humanitarian and development projects and $300 million in military support. That includes a $3.5 million contribution toward Somalia’s debt settlement with the International Monetary Fund, disbursed in December 2023.
Despite these gains, Turkey’s financial outlays in Somalia are facing increased domestic scrutiny. Critics on the committee, citing reporting by Turkish media, warned that official development assistance may be disproportionately benefiting firms close to Erdoğan. They allege that under the guise of aid, contracts are being funnelled to politically connected companies with business operations in Somalia.
Even Turkey’s economic engagement has shown signs of slowing. Bilateral trade fell from $426 million in 2023 to $384 million in 2024, according to ministry figures. Turkish firms continue to manage strategic assets in Somalia, including the Port of Mogadishu and Aden Adde International Airport, both under long-term contracts. The 2013 airport concession, in particular, remains a source of political tension and criticism over its terms.
During the committee hearing, Çakırözer questioned whether Somalia has reciprocated Turkish support on issues of importance to Ankara, including international recognition of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). “We say this relationship is special,” he said, “but has Somalia reciprocated in areas important to us?”
Still, ruling party officials defended the engagement. MP Derya Bakbak argued that Somalia’s trust in Turkey stems from Ankara’s clean record, untainted by colonialism. “Wherever Turkey goes, it brings justice, development and sincerity,” she said, describing the partnership as a symbol of Turkey’s vision to become a global power.
The Foreign Affairs Committee is expected to advance the embassy protocol for a full parliamentary vote in the coming weeks.