Over the weekend, hundreds of Turkish troops arrived in Mogadishu, transported by two Qatari Air Force aircraft, with more deployments expected in the coming days, according to reports.
The troops will support key Turkish-Somali initiatives, including the construction of a rocket launch site and ongoing oil exploration efforts. Additionally, some personnel will provide training and air support to Somali forces.
This expanded military cooperation comes after Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud requested enhanced security assistance from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to counter escalating threats from Al-Shabaab.