Officials in the African nation believe the “historic” move will strengthen efforts to protect national sovereignty
Somalia has signed a defense and economic agreement with Türkiye, which includes security guarantees for the East African nation’s maritime assets. Lawmakers in the capital, Mogadishu, voted 213 to 3 on Wednesday to approve the deal.
In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Somali Information Minister Daud Aweis described the ten-year pact as a “groundbreaking” move that will significantly strengthen the government’s efforts to protect national sovereignty.
“This marks a new era of hope for Somalia and serves as a stabilizing force for the Horn of Africa,” Aweis wrote.
The Somali-Turkish defense agreement comes amid tensions in the Horn of Africa, which have been triggered by a disputed port agreement between Ethiopia and breakaway Somaliland. Addis Ababa and Mogadishu have been at odds over the January 1 agreement, which involves Somaliland leasing coastland around the port of Berbera on the Gulf of Aden to Ethiopia for 50 years. This will allow the landlocked nation access to the Red Sea for commercial purposes as well as the construction of a marine force base.
The pact has angered Somalia, which has threatened to go to war to defend its lands because it considers Somaliland to be part of its territory despite the region gaining de facto independence in 1991. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has previously denied claims by Mogadishu, backed by Egypt, that his government is attempting to seize Somali lands. On February 6, Abiy declared that Addis Abiba is only interested in peace with its neighbors, dismissing widespread concerns about a potential war with Somalia.
However, on Saturday, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud told reporters that senior Ethiopian military officers were in Somaliland “preparing the ground” for annexation. Ethiopia, Africa’s second-most populous nation with more than 120 million people, has yet to respond to the latest accusations.
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