Somalia: Turkish drones not being used in war against Al-Shabaab - minister

Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, the minister of defense of Somalia - File photo

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A top official from the government of Somalia says the Turkish drones are not being used for special operations in the fight against Al-Shabaab militants, noting that such information is misleading to members of the public.

Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, the minister of Somalia said the Bayraktar TB drones have never been used for operations. A few weeks ago, the drones were sighted in the country's airspace and interior minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi confirmed the claims.

"So far, the US Africa Command has been providing air support to SNA, including drone strikes and aerial surveillance for years now," said Nur during an interview with a local TV.

Turkey is one of its closest partners in Somalia in terms of security and has been training units of the military and police at Camp TURKSOM in southern Mogadishu, which was opened in 2017.

The president's security advisor Hussein Moalim said Saturday that the Turkish air force is taking part in the military operations against Al-Shabaab.

Turkey has been helping Somalia to stabilize for over a decade and many construction companies have lately been moving to Mogadishu. In retaliation, Al-Shabaab often targets Turkish workers in the country to protest the close partnership between the two governments.

GAROWE ONLINE