(Bloomberg) — Turkey has sent F-16 fighter jets and attack helicopters to Somalia to step up airstrikes against al-Shabaab militants and protect its growing interests in the Horn of Africa country, according to people familiar with the matter.
Ankara now has several fighter jets in Somalia, said the people, who asked not to be identified to discuss private matters.
The move is to boost Turkish drone operations against the al-Qaeda-linked Islamist group, which has led an insurgency against the government in Mogadishu for two decades. The Indian Ocean city – Somalia’s capital – is home to Turkey’s largest overseas military base, while Ankara is building a nearby missile and space rocket testing site.
The Turkish Defense Ministry declined to comment. Somalia’s Defense Minister, Ahmed Moalim Fiqi, did not answer his phone or respond to questions sent via text message. Abdiaziz Golofyare, director of communications at Somalia’s presidential palace, declined to comment.
Turkey has struck al-Shabaab in recent months in conjunction with the US, which is also targeting Islamic State fighters in Somalia.
This week, Somalia’s cabinet replaced its army chief in a bid to revive the fight against militants. Ibrahim Mohamed Mohamud will immediately replace Odowa Yusuf Rageh, state media reported on Thursday. Mohamud is expected to step up efforts to retake territory held by al-Shabaab.
Turkey has had helicopters and combat drones in Somalia for years. It began training Somali soldiers in Mogadishu in 2017.
Over the past decade, Ankara has significantly expanded its influence through defense, energy and infrastructure projects. Turkey has announced that it will soon begin drilling for oil off the coast of Somalia.
Turkey’s latest military deployment follows Somalia’s decision to end security and port agreements with the United Arab Emirates that have strengthened ties with Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland. This policy has frustrated some of the UAE’s Middle Eastern allies, including Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt.
More such stories are available at bloomberg.com
