09/24/2026
Turkey’s Role in Somalia: Influence, Federal Tensions, and the Question of National Unity
By Burhan Ahmed
Political Commentator and Analyst – African Affairs
Turkey has emerged as one of Somalia’s most influential international partners, with a growingrole in security, military training, infrastructure, energy, maritime affairs, and diplomacy. Ankarasays its objective is to strengthen Somalia’s security institutions, sovereignty, and stability.
Yet Turkey’s expanding role is increasingly being viewed through the lens of Somalia’s internal politicaldivisions. This is particularly evident in Puntland and Jubaland, whose authorities have questioned Ankara’s neutrality in Somalia’s political disputes.
In July 2026, Puntland and Jubaland declinedto participate in Turkey-led political meetings in Mogadishu, reportedly questioning whether Turkey could act as an impartial mediator while maintaining such a close security relationship with the Federal Government.
For Puntland, this concern cannot be separated from the broader dispute with Mogadishu over constitutional amendments, elections, federal authority, and the distribution of power. Recent analysis describes a serious deterioration in relations between Puntland and the Federal Government, including disputes over federal security forces and constitutional reforms.
Critical Threats
The perception of neutrality matters
Turkey may reject allegations that it is interfering inSomalia's internal politics—and Ankara has explicitly stated that its military presence is focused on security cooperation and counterterrorism.
But in diplomacy, perception matters almostas much as intention.
When an external power provides military training, equipment, security cooperation, and political mediation primarily through the Federal Government, regional authorities can reasonably question whether that same power can serve as a neutral mediator between Mogadishu and the Federal Member States.
This is not necessarily evidence that Turkey intends to divide Somalia. Rather, it demonstrates the difficulty of combining the roles of strategic security partner and political mediator in a country experiencing deep internal disagreement.
Puntland’s concerns deserve to be heard
Puntland has not rejected international cooperation with Turkey simply because Turkey is Turkish. The central concern is whether Ankara's Somaliapolicy adequately recognizes the political realities of the entire country.
Puntland and Jubaland's decision not to participate in the July Turkey-led meetings demonstrates the depth of that mistrust. Their position wasthat Turkey's relationship with Mogadishu madeits neutrality questionable.
Other reporting and analysis have similarly described growing scrutiny of Turkey's relationship with the Federal Government and concerns that Ankara'sexpanding security role could become entangled with Somalia's internal political struggle.
These concerns should not automatically be treated as proof of Turkish wrongdoing. They should instead be understood as a political warning about the consequences of perceived imbalance.
Somalia cannot affordanother source of division
Somalia already faces serious challenges: thefight against al-Shabaab, disagreements over constitutional arrangements, tensions between the Federal Government and Federal Member States, questions surrounding elections, and competition among external powers.
At such a sensitive moment, foreign partnerships should be designed to reduce political tensionsrather than unintentionally reinforce them.
Turkey has significant influence and therefore also has an opportunity. Ankara could demonstrate that its relationship is not limited to Villa Somalia but extends to the broader Somali political community.
That means maintaining meaningful engagement with Puntland, Jubaland, Southwest, Galmudug, Hirshabelle, Somaliland, civil society, traditional leaders, opposition groups, and other relevant stakeholders—while respecting the constitutional framework and sovereignty of Somalia.
A partnership with Somalia, not only Mogadishu
There is an important distinction between supporting the Federal Government of Somalia and supporting Somalia as a nation.
A foreign government can have a legitimate diplomatic relationship with the internationally recognized Federal Government while still ensuring that its policies do not create the perception that it has taken sides in domestic political disputes.
Turkey's growing economic and strategic interestsmake this especially important. Its energy cooperation has expanded, including offshore exploration, while its security partnership has become increasingly significant.
The greater Turkey's influence becomes, thegreater the responsibility to ensure that this influence is perceived as supporting Somali national interests rather than a particular political center.
The path forward
Somalia needs international partners. Turkey can play an important role in security, economic development, maritime protection, and diplomacy. But sustainable partnerships require trust.
For that trust to develop, Turkey should pursue an inclusive approach that recognizes Somalia's federal diversity and listens to concerns from all major political stakeholders.
Likewise, Somali leaders have a responsibility to resolve their disagreements through dialoguerather than turning foreign partnerships into another arena for domestic political competition.
The objective should not be to push Turkey outof Somalia. The objective should be to ensure that Turkey's engagement does not becomeanother dividing line in Somali politics.
Somalia's sovereignty, unity, and political futuremust ultimately be determined by Somalis.
Turkey can be a partner in Somalia's future—but that partnership will be strongest whenit is seen as a partnership with Somalia asa whole, not with one political side.
By Burhan Ahmed�Political Commentator and Analyst – African Affairs
