Turkey denies plans to send 15,000 troops to Somalia amid security concerns

MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Turkey has firmly denied reports that it plans to send 15,000 troops to Somalia, saying the claims do not reflect the truth.

The Ministry of National Defense said its existing forces in Somalia would continue their training and advisory mission. The denial was issued on Thursday by ministry spokesperson Rear Admiral Zeki Aktürk during the weekly press briefing.

“Claims that Türkiye will send 15,000 troops to Somalia at Somalia’s request do not reflect the truth,” Aktürk said. He stressed that the Somalia-Turkish Task Force and the Air Element Command already deployed in the country “continue to contribute to developing Somalia’s counter-terrorism capacity through military assistance, training and advisory activities.”

The briefing took place aboard the TCG Savarona in Istanbul during commemorations for Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

How the 15,000-troop claim emerged

The figure first appeared in early November in Somali media. Gaylan Media, citing unnamed security sources, reported that Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud had asked close allies for 20,000 foreign troops. Somalia Guardian later claimed Turkey had agreed to deploy 15,000 soldiers to Barawe, Baidoa and Mogadishu before January 2027 under a bilateral defence agreement.

Neither the Turkish nor Somali government confirmed the numbers before Thursday’s denial. The Somali presidency has not issued a public statement matching the 15,000 figure.

Why Somalia is seeking more support

The reports followed Uganda’s decision to begin withdrawing its forces from Somalia after nearly 20 years. Ugandan officials confirmed that troops deployed under bilateral arrangements had started returning home, with all Ugandan personnel — including those serving under the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) — due to leave by the end of 2027.

Uganda was the first country to deploy under the original African Union mission in 2007 and has long been one of the largest contributors protecting Mogadishu and key routes in Lower Shabelle. Its exit has heightened fears among Somali officials of a security vacuum that al-Shabaab could exploit.

Al-Shabaab remains the main threat to the Somali government, controlling territory outside major towns and regularly attacking Somali security forces and civilian targets.

Turkey’s actual military role in Somalia

Turkey’s presence in Somalia is built around Camp TURKSOM in Mogadishu, its largest overseas military training base, which opened in 2017. Turkish trainers and advisers have helped build Somali National Army units, including the Gorgor (Eagle) brigades, and provide equipment and logistical support.

This cooperation is underpinned by a 10-year Defence and Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement signed in February 2024. Turkey’s parliament has extended the mandate for its forces through July 2028. Officials in Ankara describe the mission as focused on training, advising and capacity-building rather than large-scale combat deployment.

Earlier this week, Turkish and Somali officials met in Mogadishu to discuss counter-terrorism cooperation against al-Shabaab and the implications of the ongoing African Union drawdown.

Thursday’s statement makes clear that Turkey intends to maintain its current training and advisory role while rejecting reports of a massive new troop surge. The denial is likely to be closely watched in Mogadishu as Somali authorities continue to search for ways to stabilise the country amid the phased departure of foreign peacekeepers.

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