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Türkiye has significantly expanded its military assistance to Somalia this week, delivering three T129 Atak attack helicopters to the Somali government as part of efforts to combat the al-Shabab militant group, according to MEE quoting sources familiar with the matter.
The delivery follows a Saturday phone call between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, during which Erdogan reaffirmed Türkiye's commitment to supporting Somalia's counter-terrorism operations.
Ankara also provided two utility helicopters to the Somali navy under a defense agreement signed in February 2024 that mandates Türkiye to establish a naval force for Somalia. Turkish forces have been training Somali pilots to operate the Atak helicopters over the past year, with the aircraft delivered after pilots completed their final training phase.
Open-source intelligence indicates approximately six Turkish A400M and Qatari C-17A transport aircraft arrived in Mogadishu during the past week, likely carrying the helicopters.
"The delivery of the Atak helicopters to Somalia is an indication that Ankara is not only aiming to transfer weapons but also to build up an integrated war capacity for Somalia," said one source familiar with the shipment.
The military aid comes as Somalia faces renewed pressure from al-Shabab, which has intensified attacks in recent months while seeking to overthrow the government. The group captured villages south of Mogadishu last month, though it has previously abandoned similar territorial gains under military pressure.
Türkiye's expanded support appears timed to help stabilize Somalia ahead of planned 2026 elections, which would use direct voting rather than the current tribal electoral system.
The helicopter delivery represents part of Türkiye's broader military escalation in Somalia. In April, Ankara doubled its troop presence in the country to over 500 personnel tasked with protecting the Turkish military base Turksom, operating armed drones and securing Mogadishu's ports.
Türkiye has also deployed two advanced Akinci drones to complement existing TB2 Bayraktar operations. The Akinci aircraft offer enhanced night vision capabilities and can maintain 24-hour operations at high altitudes, making them more effective against al-Shabab targets.
The increased Turkish involvement comes as the United States scales back assistance to Somalia. While Washington doubled airstrikes against Islamic State affiliates in Somalia this year, it cut funding in March to the elite Danab unit that has played a crucial role fighting al-Shabab.
Türkiye's presence in Somalia dates to Erdogan's 2011 humanitarian visit, which has since evolved into comprehensive commercial and security cooperation. Last year, Ankara signed an energy exploration agreement with Somalia, deploying technical ships to survey the Somali coast.
During televised remarks Monday, Erdogan suggested "good news" regarding energy developments would be announced in due time, fueling speculation about potential resource discoveries off Somalia's coast.
The Turkish presidency said Erdogan told Mohamud during Saturday's call that Türkiye supports Somalia's "vision of development through democracy" and would continue expanding counter-terrorism assistance.
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