Newly surfaced videos showing Turkish Air Force F-16 Viper fighter jets flying over Somalia’s capital have signaled a significant escalation in Ankara’s military involvement in the Horn of Africa, marking a new phase in Turkey’s long-running engagement with the conflict-scarred nation.
The footage, which began circulating on social media in recent days, shows at least one Turkish F-16 taking off from Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport with its afterburner engaged, while another clip captures a Viper flying at low altitude over the city’s dense urban landscape. Somali government officials confirmed that three Turkish F-16s landed at the airport on January 28, accompanied by two military helicopters intended to support counterterrorism operations.
According to the regional security outlet Horn Review, the aircraft were deployed to bolster operations against al-Shabab, the al-Qaeda-linked militant group that has waged a brutal insurgency against Somalia’s internationally backed government for nearly two decades. While there has been no official confirmation that the jets have conducted airstrikes, analysts say their presence alone introduces a new operational dynamic into the fight against the jihadist organization.
“This is the first time Turkey has forward deployed manned combat aircraft into Somalia,” Horn Review noted, “expanding its role beyond drones, transport aviation, and advisory support.”
Until now, Turkey’s military footprint in Somalia has largely centered on training missions, logistical support, and the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), particularly its domestically produced Bayraktar TB2 drones. These drones have played an increasingly visible role in Somali government operations against al-Shabab, providing intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and strike capabilities.
The arrival of F-16s, however, represents a qualitative leap. Manned multirole fighters offer greater payload capacity, higher speeds, and more flexible mission profiles, including close air support, air interdiction, and deterrence patrols. Even without firing a single weapon, the deployment sends a clear signal of Turkey’s willingness to directly project airpower into one of Africa’s most volatile conflict zones.
Middle East Eye reported that Ankara had been preparing the deployment for months. Turkish engineers were reportedly working at Aden Adde International Airport to upgrade facilities and infrastructure capable of hosting high-performance fighter jets, suggesting the move was planned well in advance rather than a short-notice reaction to recent events.
Bloomberg News, citing people familiar with the matter, reported that the F-16 deployment is intended to step up pressure on al-Shabab while protecting Turkey’s expanding political and economic interests in Somalia. Mogadishu is already home to Turkey’s largest overseas military base, known as Camp TURKSOM, which has trained thousands of Somali National Army (SNA) troops since its establishment.
Beyond security cooperation, Turkey has steadily built a broad portfolio of interests in Somalia. Turkish companies are active in port management, airport operations, construction, and infrastructure development. Ankara has also expressed interest in Somalia’s energy sector and broader trade opportunities.
Somalia’s long-neglected mineral wealth is another factor shaping foreign interest. According to the consulting firm SMA Oxford, the country holds significant potential reserves of aluminum, copper, iron, titanium, rare earth elements, and other critical minerals. These resources are increasingly strategic as global demand rises for materials essential to clean energy technologies, advanced electronics, and modern weapons systems.
For Ankara, securing influence in Somalia offers both economic upside and geopolitical leverage in one of the world’s most strategically located regions.
The timing of Turkey’s F-16 deployment coincides with a renewed surge in al-Shabab activity across central and southern Somalia. The group has carried out high-profile attacks in Mogadishu and rural offensives against Somali security forces, undermining gains made during recent counterinsurgency campaigns.
This resurgence has also prompted an intensification of U.S. military action. According to Semafor, airstrikes against al-Shabab and the smaller ISIS-Somalia faction have increased sharply under U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term. Just one year into Trump’s return to office, the number of U.S. strikes in Somalia has already reached 144—more than half the total carried out during his entire first term, which was itself record-breaking, according to data from the New America think tank.
Turkey’s enhanced air presence may complement these efforts, particularly as Ankara seeks to reduce Somalia’s reliance on Western partners while increasing its own influence over security outcomes.
Beyond counterterrorism, regional geopolitics may also be driving Ankara’s decision. Reuters recently reported that Israel became the first country to recognize the self-declared Republic of Somaliland, a breakaway region in northeastern Somalia that has sought international recognition for decades. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the move would open the door to cooperation in agriculture, health, technology, and economic development.
Turkey and Israel, whose relations have been marked by rivalry and periodic crises, have long competed for influence across the Middle East. Analysts say that competition now appears to be extending into the Horn of Africa, a region of growing strategic importance due to its proximity to key maritime routes.
Somalia sits astride the Gulf of Aden, directly across from Yemen, and has a lengthy coastline along the Indian Ocean. Control and access in this region carry implications for global trade, energy shipments, and naval operations linking the Red Sea, Suez Canal, and broader Indo-Pacific.
Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler recently underscored Ankara’s commitment to Somalia’s security, stating that Turkey is increasing training and support activities aimed at strengthening stability in the country. According to TIKLS Briefs, Turkey has established new military facilities in Somalia, including the Somali Air Command and expanded aviation infrastructure.
“In Somalia, we recently established the Air Force Command, which includes facilities for helicopters and drones,” Güler said, highlighting Ankara’s efforts to help Somalia develop indigenous air capabilities alongside Turkish deployments.
Turkey first entered Somalia in 2011 during a devastating famine, combining humanitarian assistance with diplomatic and security engagement. Over time, this evolved into one of Ankara’s most ambitious overseas military partnerships. Turkish instructors have trained elite Somali units, supplied vehicles and equipment, and provided financial support to the Somali government.
While unprecedented for Somalia, the forward deployment of F-16s is not without precedent in Turkish military practice. In 2020, during heightened tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh, Turkey deployed six F-16s to Azerbaijan. Satellite imagery at the time confirmed their presence, though Ankara maintained that the jets were not directly involved in combat.
That deployment, like the current one in Somalia, served both military and political purposes—deterring adversaries while signaling Turkey’s readiness to back its partners with hard power.
For now, it remains unclear how long the Turkish F-16s will remain stationed in Mogadishu or whether their numbers will increase. Neither Ankara nor Somali authorities have provided a timeline, and officials have been cautious about detailing the jets’ operational roles.
Even so, analysts widely believe that Turkey is positioning itself for a sustained presence. The infrastructure upgrades, the establishment of air command facilities, and the broader pattern of Turkish engagement all point toward a long-term strategy rather than a temporary show of force.
As Somalia continues to grapple with insurgency, political fragility, and economic recovery, Turkey’s decision to deploy frontline combat aircraft underscores how the country has become a focal point for regional and global power competition. Whether the F-16s ultimately conduct combat missions or remain a deterrent presence, their appearance over Mogadishu marks a clear escalation in Ankara’s ambitions—and a new chapter in Somalia’s complex security landscape.
