Erdogan, a favourite of Somalis set to win in second round

GOOBJOOG NEWS|TURKIYE: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a favourite candidate for most Somalis is set to be re-elected in an expected re-run after he and his main opponent Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu failed to secure the 50% threshold required by law.

President Erdogan who has been at the helm of Turkish politics since 2003 has the advantage of winning over the independent candidate Sinan Oğan who, according to the latest polls garnered 5.2%. Having secured 49.4% vote, Erdogan of the Justice and Development Party (ARK) will easily flip the vote in the second round to garner more than 50%.

His track record which has seen Turkey rise to become a formidable player in the international arena in addition to championing Turkiye’s stellar economic development has earned him sizeable support in all constituencies in the country.

Erdogan is a much-loved politician in Somalia and his reign both as Prime Minister and President has resulted in a closely-knit relationship between Somalia and Turkiye. In 2011 at the height of a deadly famine that claimed over 260,000 people most of them children, Erdogan, then a Prime Minister became the first foreign leader to visit Somalia and mobilise international support.

The Turkish airlines subsequently flew into Somalia becoming the first non-African airline to operate in Somalia. The airline has since established itself as the foremost foreign airline in Somalia operating daily flights. Several other development projects have been executed by Turkiye in Somalia since Erdogan’s first visit. This includes the state-of-the-art Recep Tayyip Erdogan Hospital in Mogadishu, the refurbishment and upgrade of the Port of Mogadishu and Aden Ade Airport, and road construction among other economic sectors.

Turkey under Erdogan built a $50 million military training academy in Mogadishu which has since trained many Somali soldiers at recruit and advanced levels. Somali soldiers and police have also benefited from advanced training in Turkey.

As Turks prepare for the second round slated for May 28, Somalis and many Turks will be routing for the return of Erdogan whose leadership Somalia and many other African countries have encountered mutual and productive economic development.