Two military aircraft from Turkey have landed at Aden Adde International Airport in Mogadishu, according to reports from Turkish media sources. These planes were confirmed to be carrying approximately 500 Turkish soldiers.
Reports suggest that the total number of Turkish troops expected to be deployed in Somalia could exceed 2,500, although the exact figure has not been officially disclosed.
The arrival of these forces comes at a critical time, as the Somali government intensifies its ongoing battle against the extremist group Al-Shabaab. In addition to ground troops, Turkish fighter jets are reportedly participating in aerial bombardments targeting Al-Shabaab positions.
This deployment follows a resolution passed by the Turkish Parliament in July last year, signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, which authorized the deployment of Turkish military personnel to Somalia for a two-year mission.
The move is part of broader efforts to support Somalia’s security and counterterrorism initiatives, under a bilateral defense cooperation agreement between the two nations.
The parliamentary resolution also highlighted Turkey’s decade-long commitment to Somalia, which has included continuous support in training, humanitarian aid, and security advisory roles—aimed at strengthening Somalia’s defense institutions and enabling them to independently address terrorist threats.
