Turkish Parliament Approves Military Deployment to Somalia for Two Years
Ankara, The Gulf Observer: The Turkish parliament has approved a presidential motion to deploy military forces in Somalia for an additional two years. This decision supports security efforts against terrorism and other threats under the Türkiye-Somalia defence cooperation agreement.
The motion, signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, underscores Türkiye’s decade-long commitment to providing training, assistance, and advisory support in Somalia. These efforts aim to ensure security and stability and to help restructure Somalia’s defence and security forces to effectively combat terrorism.
Since 2009, the Turkish military has been actively involved in international efforts to combat piracy, armed robbery, and maritime terrorism in the Gulf of Aden, off the coast of Somalia (excluding Somali territorial waters), the Arabian Sea, and adjacent regions. This support is based on the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation and the UN Security Council resolution of December 16, 2008.
The mandate, which was last extended by the Turkish parliament on January 17 for another year, notes that Türkiye will command Combined Task Force-151 for the seventh time starting in July. The task force is a multinational coalition established to combat piracy in the region.
The motion emphasizes that despite having adequate personnel and resources, Somali defence and security forces have not yet reached the desired level of capability due to economic challenges. The Somali government aims to control maritime areas and integrate resources into the economy to enhance the capacity of its security forces and other state institutions.
This goal aligns with the Somali Security Sector Development Plan, adopted at the Somalia Security Conference co-hosted by Türkiye in New York on December 12, 2023. The plan aims for Somalia to take full responsibility for its security in the near future.
The Turkish parliament’s approval signifies a continued commitment to supporting Somalia in its fight against terrorism and in bolstering its defence capabilities.
