Türkiye has dismissed reports that it plans to deploy 15,000 troops to Somalia, reaffirming its focus on training, assistance and advisory support to strengthen the country’s counterterrorism capabilities.
Defence Ministry spokesman Rear Admiral Zeki Aktürk made the clarification amid shifts in the international security presence in Somalia, including Uganda’s planned withdrawal of forces.
Ankara continues to deepen its defence and maritime cooperation with Mogadishu, prioritising capacity-building for Somali security forces rather than a large-scale troop deployment.
The statement aims to clarify Türkiye’s role as Somalia navigates changes in regional and international security arrangements.
Officials emphasised that ongoing military training programmes and advisory missions remain the cornerstone of bilateral defence ties, helping Somali forces improve their ability to independently address terrorism and maritime security threats.
Mustaqbal
