by Francesco Frasca –
Somalia’s Council of Ministers has ratified a new maritime agreement with Turkey that outsources the protection of Somalia’s territorial waters for ten years. The historic defense and economic cooperation pact paves the way for a possible revolution within the country’s security system, which has undergone radical changes and reforms in the recent past. Somalia has yet to build the naval forces that would secure the 3,333 kilometers of coastline rich in minerals and other maritime resources.
The agreement grants Turkey “global authority” over the defense and management of Somalia’s maritime territory. Ankara would supposedly receive 30% of Somalia’s exclusive economic zone revenue as compensation for its maritime security services.
The Turkish Navy has been operating off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden since 2009 as part of a United Nations mission to combat piracy.
The agreement places emphasis on fighting illegal fishing in Somali waters, which costs the country millions of dollars, while efforts to address the problem of unregulated fishing are at an impasse.
Under the treaty, Turkey commits to building and equipping the Somali navy by providing training and equipment so that it can better protect its territorial waters from threats such as terrorism, piracy and “foreign interference.”
Somalia largely depends on international partners for its defense and for this reason the country hosts over 15 thousand foreign troops. In particular, the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) was responsible for the security protocols in the country.
For a long time, Turkey has invested a lot of resources in training the elite GorGor troops, who are crucial in the fight against al-Shabaab. It also opened a military base in 2017 that serves as a training center and provides support to security and defense operations in the country.
This military presence reflects Turkey’s commitment to supporting Somalia in addressing security threats and contributing to regional stability, and the signed pact will unleash this potential as a strategic measure to safeguard the country from maritime challenges.
For Somalia, the pact offers crucial support for development initiatives, while for Turkey it represents an opportunity to expand its influence and deepen its engagement in East Africa.
The agreement comes in a context of growing tension between Somalia and Ethiopia following the signing on January 1 of a memorandum of understanding between Ethiopia and Somaliland, which Somalia has condemned as a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Ethiopia is seeking 20 kilometers of the Red Sea inside Somaliland for the creation of a military base and port.
The agreement grants Ethiopia naval and commercial access to ports along Somaliland’s coast in exchange for recognition of its independence. Since 1991, this self-proclaimed autonomous region, located in the northern part of Somalia, has declared its independence from central Somalia, although it has not been officially recognized internationally as an independent state.
Ethiopia already uses Somaliland ports, such as Berbera Port, for the transportation of goods and the transit of imported and exported goods through the Red Sea. This has helped strengthen economic ties between the two countries.
The details of that agreement have not been made public, but Somalia has nevertheless strongly condemned the Ethiopian move and Turkey has supported Mogadishu in the matter. Ultimately, Somalia would be ready to go to war, because it considers Somaliland part of its territory, even though it has enjoyed de facto independence for three decades.
Turkey, whose investments in the ports of the Horn of Africa have followed those of Qatar, but with a more militarized approach, thus presents itself as a key player in Somalia. Competing with the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf Arab states, Ankara is jockeying for influence in a strategic country located on the shores of the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden, a gateway to the Red Sea.
