Turkey Steps up Mediation Efforts as Somalia Seeks to Ease Political Tensions

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: Turkey has intensified efforts to help defuse Somalia’s escalating political tensions, with a Turkish delegation holding separate meetings in Mogadishu with federal government officials and opposition leaders following recent clashes in the capital.

The delegation, which sources said includes diplomats and security officials, is part of Ankara’s efforts to encourage dialogue between Somalia’s federal government and opposition politicians locked in a dispute over electoral arrangements, constitutional reforms and the country’s political future.

Diplomatic sources familiar with the discussions said members of Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) were among the officials involved in the talks, although neither the Turkish government nor Somali authorities have publicly confirmed the composition of the delegation or the details of the meetings.

The mediation efforts come days after armed clashes between government forces and fighters aligned with opposition leaders, including former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed and former Prime Minister Hassan Ali Kheyre, raised fears of a broader political crisis in Mogadishu.

Sources close to the negotiations said Turkish officials have also met Sharif Sheikh Ahmed at his residence in the capital as part of efforts to reduce tensions and encourage direct political engagement between the rival sides.

The latest developments underscore Turkey’s growing influence in Somalia, where it has become one of the country’s closest international partners over the past decade. Ankara has invested heavily in infrastructure, humanitarian assistance and state-building initiatives, while also playing a central role in training Somali security forces and supporting counterinsurgency efforts against Al-Shabaab.

Turkey’s longstanding ties with both the federal government and various political actors could place it in a unique position to facilitate dialogue at a time when Somalia faces one of its most significant political tests since the electoral crisis of 2021.

The recent unrest has drawn concern from the United Nations, the African Union, IGAD, the United States, the United Kingdom and other international partners, all of whom have urged Somali leaders to resolve their differences through dialogue and avoid actions that could undermine the country’s fragile security gains.

While no formal breakthrough has yet been announced, political sources say the Turkish-led contacts have helped lower tensions in Mogadishu, which remained largely calm on Friday after several days of uncertainty.

Political observers caution, however, that the underlying disputes over elections, constitutional amendments and power-sharing arrangements remain unresolved, making the coming days critical for Somalia’s political stability.