https://www.dw.com/en/somalia-turkey-security-deal-how-does-it-impact-ethiopia/a-68375405
Turkey and Somalia last week signed a significant defense and economic cooperation agreement.
Under the 10-year pact, Turkey will help defend Somalia's long coastline and also rebuild the naval forces of the fragile Horn of Africa nation.
"We will help Somalia develop its capacity and capabilities to combat illegal and irregular activities in its territorial waters," a Turkish Defense Ministry official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said.
"With this agreement, Turkey will contribute to the recovery of natural resources within Somalia's maritime borders," said Yunus Turhan, a Turkey-Africa relations analyst at Haci Bayram Veli University in Ankara.
The Somali government hopes the deal will strengthen its ability to combat threats like piracy and terrorism, but also, more pointedly, "foreign interference."
Some experts think otherwise.
"With the new deal, it means that the kind of control that Turkey will have in Somalia has become expansive and unlimited... It creates a lot of contention," said Mohamed Gaas, an analyst who heads the Raad Peace Research Institute, a think tank in Mogadishu, Somalia.
"Because as Africans, we are concerned about a European country having that kind of influence or military power in the Horn of Africa."
Turkey and Somalia last week signed a significant defense and economic cooperation agreement.
Under the 10-year pact, Turkey will help defend Somalia's long coastline and also rebuild the naval forces of the fragile Horn of Africa nation.
"We will help Somalia develop its capacity and capabilities to combat illegal and irregular activities in its territorial waters," a Turkish Defense Ministry official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said.
"With this agreement, Turkey will contribute to the recovery of natural resources within Somalia's maritime borders," said Yunus Turhan, a Turkey-Africa relations analyst at Haci Bayram Veli University in Ankara.
The Somali government hopes the deal will strengthen its ability to combat threats like piracy and terrorism, but also, more pointedly, "foreign interference."
Some experts think otherwise.
"With the new deal, it means that the kind of control that Turkey will have in Somalia has become expansive and unlimited... It creates a lot of contention," said Mohamed Gaas, an analyst who heads the Raad Peace Research Institute, a think tank in Mogadishu, Somalia.
"Because as Africans, we are concerned about a European country having that kind of influence or military power in the Horn of Africa."
