ANKARA, Turkey – President Recep Tayyip Erdogan introduced a motion to the Turkish parliament on Friday, seeking authorisation for the deployment of Turkish troops to Somalia’s territorial waters.
This move follows a defence and economic cooperation deal between Turkey and Somalia, signed in February, aimed at bolstering Somalia’s maritime defence capabilities and establishing a navy for the African nation.
The secret deal was reportedly concluded in response to Ethiopia’s agreement with the breakaway state of Somaliland in January, which grants Addis Ababa the right to build a military port there.
Earlier this month, Turkey hosted foreign ministers from Somalia and Ethiopia, in an attempt to mediate and resolve the ensuing crisis. Although the meetings ended with a joint declaration expressing a willingness to engage, sources told Middle East Eye that Ethiopia, despite initiating the mediation, showed strong reservations and reluctance to progress. The Turkish foreign ministry has declined to comment.
This development has apparently accelerated Turkey’s commitment to Somalia. On Thursday, Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar signed a hydrocarbon exploration and production agreement with his Somali counterpart, Abdirizak Omar Mohamed, in Istanbul.
This agreement authorises Turkish state company TPAO to conduct exploration activities in three different blocks within Somali maritime areas.
Source Middle East aye
