Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has submitted a motion to parliament seeking a two-year extension of the deployment of Turkish Armed Forces personnel in Somalia under the countries’ defence cooperation agreements, according to a presidential mandate sent to the Grand National Assembly on Friday.

The mandate said Somalia’s security and stability are important for the wider region and that the extension would allow Turkish forces to continue supporting Somalia’s efforts to combat terrorism and other security threats.

It said Türkiye has maintained broad political, social, economic and security cooperation with Somalia’s Federal Government since 2011, noting that Ankara has earned the trust of the Somali people through sustained engagement.

Under existing agreements on military training, technical cooperation, defence industry collaboration and military financial assistance, Türkiye has continued to provide training, advisory and support activities aimed at improving security and stability while helping rebuild Somalia’s defence and security institutions.

The document said that although Somalia’s defence and security forces have sufficient personnel and other resources, economic constraints continue to limit their operational effectiveness.

Counter terrorism

It added that the Somali Federal Government had requested continued Turkish assistance, including military support, under the bilateral Defence and Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement to help counter terrorism, piracy, illegal fishing, smuggling and other threats.

The mandate also referred to a United Nations Security Council resolution adopted on 1 December 2023, saying Türkiye’s approach seeks to support Somalia’s long-term stability by helping protect the country’s economic resources and enabling it to make more effective use of them to strengthen its defence and security forces.

It said the cooperation would also contribute to security and stability in strategically important maritime areas for Türkiye’s foreign trade and shipping, while reinforcing efforts against terrorism, piracy and armed robbery in the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea and surrounding waters, which Ankara said affect both international peace and its national interests.

Extend mandate

If approved by parliament, the authorisation granted under Article 92 of Türkiye’s Constitution would extend the current mandate, which expires on 27 July 2026, for a further two years.

The motion would allow Turkish military personnel to operate, under rules determined by the president and in accordance with international law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions, in jointly designated areas, including Somalia’s maritime jurisdiction, while cooperating with third countries and international organisations where necessary.