Somalia, Türkiye Review Defence Cooperation and Training of National Army

MOGADISHU — Somalia’s Minister of Defence, Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, received a delegation of Turkish military officers at his office on Monday, led by the Commander of the TURKSOM Military Training Academy, Major General Sabahattin Kalkan.

The meeting focused on strengthening defence cooperation between Somalia and Türkiye, with particular emphasis on training and enhancing the capabilities of the Somali National Armed Forces.

Minister Fiqi commended TURKSOM’s role in training and developing the professional skills of Somali military personnel. He thanked the Government of Türkiye for its continued support for Somalia’s efforts to rebuild its armed forces and ensure the country’s security and stability.

A Central Pillar of Defence Cooperation

TURKSOM, located in Mogadishu, is Türkiye’s largest overseas military training base and academy. Operational since 2017, the facility trains officers and non-commissioned officers of the Somali National Army, including members of the elite Gorgor Commando Brigade and the Haramcad Special Police Unit. More than 5,000 Somali security personnel have reportedly been trained at the base.

The partnership has expanded beyond training. In February 2026, Turkish military transports delivered M48 and M60 Patton battle tanks to Mogadishu Port, equipping Somali forces with heavy armoured capability for the first time since the collapse of the state in 1991. Türkiye has also delivered T-129 ATAK attack helicopters and armoured vehicles to Somalia under the framework of a February 2024 defence agreement.

In July 2026, Türkiye’s parliament approved a two-year extension of its military mission in Somalia, reaffirming Ankara’s long-term commitment to supporting Somali security forces in the fight against Al-Shabaab and maritime threats, as reported in FTL Somalia’s coverage of the Somalia-Türkiye alliance.

Critical Note

Türkiye’s role in training and equipping the Somali National Army has grown steadily since 2017, and the TURKSOM partnership has produced some of the SNA’s most capable units. The Gorgor Commandos trained at the academy have been repeatedly described as among the most effective forces in the government’s counterterrorism campaign, as demonstrated in events such as the Gorgor Forces combat skills showcase.

However, independent assessments suggest that the impact of TURKSOM training remains concentrated within a small segment of the armed forces. A 2022 report by the Hiraal Institute found that while training produced significant improvements at the individual soldier level, structural challenges including clan-based divisions, inconsistent salary payments, and the problem of ghost soldiers persist at the institutional level. The International Crisis Group reached a similar conclusion, noting that Türkiye’s training programme alone is insufficient to solve the SNA’s structural problems.

The repeated meetings between Minister Fiqi and TURKSOM leadership reflect the close coordination between Mogadishu and Ankara, but they also highlight the degree to which the SNA’s professionalisation depends on continued external engagement. Whether that engagement translates into a self-sustaining force capable of assuming security responsibility remains an open question.