Somalia is set to house a nearly finished rocket launch facility built by Türkiye, according to Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. The project is expected to create significant employment opportunities and revenue for the East African nation.
The facility’s location remains undisclosed, but Somalia’s equatorial position and access to the Indian Ocean make it an ideal site for space launches, reducing energy needs and ensuring debris falls into unpopulated areas.
The development, which began in December 2024, is part of Türkiye’s 10-year space program launched in 2021 to strengthen its global space ambitions through satellite technology and spaceport infrastructure.
Türkiye has deepened its investments in Somalia across defense, education, health, and infrastructure. Since 2017, Turkish forces have trained Somali troops at the TURKSOM base, and in 2024, Türkiye supplied 450 MPT-76 rifles under revised UN arms embargo terms.
A February 2024 agreement granted Türkiye 30% of Somalia’s exclusive economic zone revenue in exchange for reconstructing Somalia’s navy. Additional projects include modernizing Mogadishu’s airport and port and rebuilding critical roads.
Mutual Strategic Benefits
President Mohamud emphasized the collaboration’s significance, noting that Somalia’s hosting of the rocket facility elevates its regional standing while solidifying Türkiye’s influence in the Horn of Africa.
Historical ties between the two nations have grown since Türkiye reopened its Mogadishu embassy in 2011. By 2022, trade between the nations reached $389 million, underscoring the partnership’s economic and strategic depth.