Turkey Arms Somalia with Advanced Helicopters as Al-Shabaab Regains Ground  

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The defence capability of the Somali National Army (SNA) was significantly enhanced following the delivery of the T129 helicopters in the country by Turkey, which would assist in the fight against Al-Shabaab militants.

The three modern helicopters were delivered upon the request of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who spoke with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has traditionally supported Somalia’s independence.

According to multiple security sources who spoke to the Middle East Eye, Turkey delivered the helicopters this week, a few days after the discussion between the two leaders. Simultaneously and in line with the defence cooperation signed last year, Turkey also handed two utility helicopters to the Somali Navy.

Turkey has been training several Somali pilots to operate Atak helicopters for the past year. The shipment of the helicopters was delivered after the pilots completed their final stage of training, the publication notes.

Over the past week, the Open-source data shows six Turkish A400M and Qatari C-17A transport aircraft have arrived in Mogadishu. The government of Turkey has yet to comment on the issue.

“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 of the sources familiar with the shipment.

Erdogan, who spoke with Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, told the Somali president that Turkey supports Somalia’s development vision through democracy. Hassan Sheikh has been accused of violations of human rights.

Somalia is set for electoral contests next year, and already, there is internal uproar on the model to be used, with Hassan Sheikh preferring universal suffrage, a move rejected by several stakeholders, who accuse him of pushing for term extensions through delays.

Turkey is seemingly preparing the country by pushing for stability ahead of the polls, with Al-Shabaab militants also being on the resurgence, a move which has raised concerns among international partners.

Al-Shabab has made significant gains in central Somalia, notably capturing villages south of the capital, Mogadishu, last month. However, the group made similar advances in previous years, later abandoning its positions due to military pressure from Somali forces.

Turkey has also raised its military presence in Somalia, potentially triggering resistance from the opposition.

Although Turkish TB2 Bayraktar drones were already in operation, Ankara has recently transported two Akinci drones to Somalia. These drones, capable of flying at high altitudes for extended periods, are considered more effective against al-Shabab due to their advanced night vision and 24-hour operational capabilities.

At the same time, the US is scaling down military operations in the Horn of Africa nation, a move that has caused panic in both Mogadishu and Washington. The US wants international partners to contribute equally to the stabilisation project in Somalia.

GAROWE ONLINE