Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has signed the approval of the defense agreement between Turkey and his country, whereby Ankara takes a role in the defense of Somali territorial waters for a period of ten years.

“I signed the Defense and Economic Cooperation Agreement between Somalia and Turkey approved (by the Parliament). This historic agreement marks a new page in our nation’s journey to a future of security and prosperity,” the Somali president said in a post on Platform X.

According to Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, “the agreement expresses the joint determination to combat all forms of illegal activities” and describes it as “necessary for Somalia’s maritime security”.

“We express our deep gratitude to our sister country Turkey for its unwavering and timely support and commitment to ensuring peace, stability and prosperity in the region,” concluded the Somali president.

In an earlier statement, Mohamud announced that a joint naval force would be established between the two countries to protect Somali waters for 10 years and contribute to the development of marine resources, according to Turkey’s Anadolu news agency.

The Defense and Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement was signed between Turkey and Somalia on February 8, during the visit of Somali Defense Minister Abdulkadir Muhammad Nur to Ankara.

Regarding the agreement, during yesterday’s regular weekly briefing of the military editors by his representative, Commander-in-Chief Zeki Akturk, sources from the same ministry said that the Framework Agreement for Defense and Economic Cooperation aims to develop and diversify the activities that have been undertaken to date in the context of Turkey-Somalia bilateral military relations. Turkey will provide, the same sources said, the support it already provides on land to fight terrorism and in the field of maritime security. “Thus, we will help Somalia improve its capacity and capabilities in combating illegal and irregular activities in its territorial waters,” the same sources said.

Turkey has been providing support for more than 10 years to the Somali army for its formation, training and restructuring. Turkey has for years maintained a large military base in the Somali capital of Mogadishu, while the Turkish Navy participates in UN-sponsored missions off the coast of Somalia to combat piracy.

The developments in Somalia were also discussed during the recent meeting of the Turkish president in Cairo and his meeting with the Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

Tensions in the Horn of Africa have escalated recently following the signing of a controversial agreement between Ethiopia and the breakaway region of Somaliland, which gives Addis Ababa access to the Red Sea. The agreement signed in early January sees Somaliland lease 20 kilometers of its coast to Ethiopia to use as a military base and for commercial purposes. In return, Ethiopia will recognize Somaliland as an independent state.

Ethiopia has been landlocked since Eritrea’s independence was recognized in 1993. Somaliland, a small territory on the shores of the Gulf of Aden, declared independence in 1991 but is still internationally recognized as part of Somalia.