MOGADISHU — Türkiye has begun moving forward with plans to establish a satellite and rocket launch facility on Somalia’s Indian Ocean coastline, marking a major step in Ankara’s long-term space ambitions and deepening strategic cooperation between the two countries.
The project, which has entered its initial construction phase, is being developed under Turkish state authority following feasibility studies and design work completed earlier this year, according to Turkish officials. The proposed spaceport will cover a large coastal area and is intended to support orbital satellite launches and testing activities conducted over open waters.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan publicly confirmed the plan during a joint press conference with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Istanbul on December 30, 2025, stating that the spaceport is part of recently signed bilateral agreements. Somali authorities have welcomed the initiative as a key investment that could strengthen infrastructure development and attract foreign capital.
Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacir said the facility would place Türkiye among a small group of countries with independent satellite launch infrastructure, describing it as a significant milestone for technological maturity and strategic autonomy. The location was selected for its proximity to the equator, access to open sea routes, and suitability for safe launch operations, which reduce fuel requirements and risks to populated areas.
The project is backed by Turkish defence and aerospace firms, including Baykar and Roketsan, with Baykar chairman Selçuk Bayraktar describing Somalia’s coastline as one of the few globally viable sites for full-scale spaceflight. Turkish engineers are overseeing early construction and technical planning.
Analysts say the spaceport would put Somalia on the global space map for the first time and give Türkiye a rare equatorial launch position along a strategically significant corridor linking the Red Sea and the wider Indian Ocean. International attention has intensified, with reports indicating that U.S., French and Chinese reconnaissance satellites have been monitoring areas linked to the planned site, reflecting broader geopolitical interest.
Turkish officials frame the project as part of Türkiye’s National Space Program, which aims to expand satellite production, launch capability and space-based navigation systems. While authorities emphasize civilian and commercial objectives, experts note that launch facilities can support dual-use applications depending on state policy.
Türkiye has significantly expanded its presence in Somalia since 2011 through humanitarian aid, infrastructure projects, defence cooperation and trade. Both governments say the spaceport represents the most advanced stage of their partnership to date, though no official timeline has been announced for when the facility will become operational.
