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Türkiye's Ministry of National Defense (MoND) on Thursday rejected claims that it would send 15,000 troops to Somalia at Mogadishu’s request, saying its forces in the country continue their training and advisory mission.
"The Somalia Turkish Task Force and our Air Element Command deployed in Somalia continue to contribute to developing Somalia’s counterterrorism capacity through military assistance, training and advisory activities," ministry spokesman Rear Adm. Zeki Akturk said.
"The claims that Türkiye will send 15,000 troops to Somalia at Somalia’s request do not reflect the truth," the spokesman noted.
Akturk spoke at the ministry's weekly press briefing, held aboard TCG Savarona, the yacht that is part of the legacy of Republic founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, to mark Nov. 10 Ataturk Commemoration Day and Ataturk Week.
The Turkish military has trained Somali soldiers at the TURKSOM Military Training Base since 2017.
The Somalia Turkish Task Force Command was established under a 2010 framework agreement, a 2012 military training cooperation agreement, a 2014 task force protocol, and a 2015 Cabinet decision, and officially began operating on Sept. 30, 2017.
The command supports the Somali Armed Forces in organization, training, military infrastructure and logistics, while its military school provides military, academic and physical training.
Advisers work with Somalia’s presidency, Defense Ministry, General Staff and land, naval and air forces.
The Turkish-trained "Gorgor" brigades and special forces battalions trained by Türkiye operate in the field alongside the U.S.-trained “Danab” Brigade and a UAE-trained special forces battalion.
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