A NEW DIMENSION IN SOMALI-TURKEY RELATIONS: WHY SOMALIA SEES TURKEY AS A SECURITY PARTNER?

Abstract

Sub-Saharan Africa is one of the regions characterized by civil wars, terrorism and instability. This situation has required countries in this geography to identify strategies and take various measures to protect themselves from risks and threats. Security and stability in the region are of great importance for the Somali state, which is located in the Horn of Africa and in today's conjuncture, both fighting against terrorist organizations such as Al-Shabaab, which continue to exist in the region, and trying to counter piracy activities on its coasts opening to the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.  In this context, Somalia has chosen Turkey, with which it has positively deepened its relations, as its strategic security partner among many dominant actors in the region against potential risks in the region and has given Turkey an effective mission for the security and stability of its coasts with the new 'Defense and Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement' signed in February 2024. At this point, this article will mainly focus on why Somalia, grappling with security challenges in the Horn of Africa, has embraced and favoured Turkey as a strategic partner and ally, and will also examine the putative relationship dynamics that led to the signing of a new agreement. By addressing these dynamics from a historical perspective and analyzing Somalia's security needs, this study will also examine the dynamics behind Turkey's important role in Somalia and try to analyze the dynamics behind Turkey's important role in Somalia's coastline in line with the question of why Somalia sees Turkey as a security partner.