Situation, Facts and Events
29.04.2025

Turkey deploys troops to Somalia

Units of Turkiye's armed forces have arrived in Somalia's capital Mogadishu. The contingent, consisting of 500 troops, was delivered by several military transport planes of the Turkish Air Force. This is the first time Turkey has deployed an armed contingent on Somali territory, where a military advisory mission had previously operated.

The troops will be deployed in the Middle Shabelle and Lower Shabelle regions, where al-Shabab militants have been active in recent weeks.

According to Anadolu, the group has seized large territories in both regions and continues to advance toward Mogadishu. The group's advances have raised concerns about the security of the capital and the stability of the country as a whole.

According to media reports, the total number of Turkish troops that may be deployed on the territory of Somalia could reach five thousand.

Presently, there are about 20,000 troops in Somalia, mainly coming from Ethiopia, Djibouti, Uganda and Kenya, as well as NATO countries. The foreign troops are supporting the country's government to combat Islamists.

Al-Shabab militants, in turn, say they will continue their offensive against the government forces even if those get support from abroad. Earlier, the group occupied several major military bases of the Somali army, seizing a large number of weapons and ammunition.

Earlier, the Somali authorities also signed an agreement on military cooperation with Egypt, according to which Egyptian military contingent may be deployed in this country.  
 

Source: anna-news.info