Puntland calls time on Turkey

Puntland’s Minister of Information Mohamud Aidid Dirir has criticized Turkey’s involvement in Somalia, accusing Ankara of prioritizing its own strategic and economic interests at the expense of “Somalia’s sovereignty and long-term stability.” In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Aidid said Turkey’s engagement in Somalia has “failed to contribute meaningfully to lasting security, good governance, or political stability.” Instead, he argued, Ankara’s presence has been driven by “self-interest, corruption, and exploitative” practices that undermine Somalia’s sovereignty and lead to the misappropriation of national resources.

The remarks come amid heightened political tensions following the recent Bosaso sea world vessel incident, which drew widespread attention across Puntland and beyond. On August this year, a foreign vessel docked at Bosaso port under unclear circumstances, triggering a political standoff between Puntland authorities in Garowe and the Federal Government in Mogadishu. Local officials initially detained the ship, citing irregularities in its documentation and serious concerns over its cargo, which reportedly included military logistics and heavy weapons. Puntland authorities said the vessel “lacked proper authorization and posed potential security risks.”

After several days of tense negotiations, Puntland officials confirmed that the vessel was released following diplomatic engagement with the Turkish ambassador. Recent remarks by the information minister highlight growing unease among some Somali stakeholders regarding Turkey’s expanding influence and its entrenched ties with the federal government.

Turkey has invested heavily in Somalia’s infrastructure and security institutions, positioning itself as a key international partner in the country’s reconstruction. However, Puntland argue that these investments have failed to deliver sustainable governance, or equitable economic benefits, particularly for federal member states.

Relations between Somalia and Turkey have evolved into one of the most significant strategic partnerships in the Horn of Africa. Turkey’s involvement began during Somalia’s devastating famine in 2011, when Ankara launched a high-profile humanitarian response and mobilized diplomatic and political support. That initial engagement rapidly expanded into large-scale infrastructure projects, education initiatives, and healthcare services, laying the groundwork for a deeper and more enduring presence.

Over time, the relationship has expanded into security and military cooperation. In 2017, Turkey established its largest overseas military base in Mogadishu, where it has since trained thousands of Somali National Army personnel. This move cemented Ankara’s role as a central pillar of Somalia’s security architecture. Turkey also operates one of its largest embassies worldwide in Mogadishu.

Somalia views Turkey as a trusted ally, while Ankara sees Somalia as a strategic gateway to Africa and the Indian Ocean. The partnership now extends beyond humanitarian assistance into defense, energy, and geopolitics. Turkish companies manage key national assets, including Mogadishu’s port and international airport, giving Ankara significant influence over Somalia’s trade and logistics infrastructure. Turkey has also positioned itself as a mediator, most recently brokering a high-level diplomatic standoff between Somalia and Ethiopia. The dispute followed a year-long deadlock triggered when Ethiopia signed a memorandum of understanding with Somaliland, granting Ethiopia access to the sea.

In 2024 and 2025, Somalia and Turkey signed landmark hydrocarbon agreements granting the Turkish Petroleum Corporation rights to explore and produce oil and gas in several onshore and offshore blocks. Under these agreements, Turkey reportedly secured up to 90 percent of oil and gas output, reflecting the scale of its investment and strategic leverage. Extensive seismic surveys and drilling operations have been conducted.

Turkey has also been linked to ambitious proposals for a potential spaceport project in Somalia, leveraging the country’s equatorial location for satellite launches. Although still at an early conceptual stage, the idea reflects Ankara’s broader strategic vision of positioning Somalia as a hub for advanced technology and a long-term partner within Turkey’s security and geopolitical framework. Beyond such high-profile initiatives, Turkey continues to invest heavily in roads, hospitals, schools, and other public infrastructure, embedding itself deeply within Somalia’s development and state-building efforts.

Successive Somalia’s administrations have viewed Turkey’s engagement as largely constructive, particularly in rebuilding state institutions and offering an alternative to competing Gulf-state influence, notably from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar. However, critics — especially in Puntland — argue that the scale, pace, and opacity of Turkey’s involvement risk “undermining Somalia’s federal system, weakening regional autonomy, and eroding national sovereignty.”

These concerns are complicated by Puntland’s own entrenched relationships with Gulf states, particularly the UAE, which has long been a close ally of the regional administration. The UAE has trained and reportedly paid salaries for Puntland’s special force units. More recently, growing reports suggest that Bosaso air base has been used as a logistical hub for the transport of UAE material and personnel allegedly supporting Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group accused of committing large-scale atrocities during Sudan’s ongoing conflict.

Puntland’s latest statement signals rising discontent with Turkey’s expanding partnership with Somalia’s federal government. While Puntland has historically maintained a high degree of autonomy, and has recently severed formal ties with the federal government, its relationship with the oil-rich UAE remains opaque but robust. As such, Puntland’s criticism of Turkey cannot be understood in isolation. It is rooted not only in Ankara’s growing influence in Mogadishu but also in Somalia’s deeply volatile political scene, where regional rivalries, foreign alignments, and federal tensions continue to intersect.