Turkey Maintains Visa Restrictions on Somalia Despite More Than $1 Billion in Aid, Strategic Partnerships and Expanding Energy Cooperation
Turkey has emerged as one of Somalia’s closest international partners over the past decade, investing more than $1 billion in humanitarian assistance, infrastructure, security cooperation and economic development. Despite the depth of this relationship, Somali citizens continue to face strict travel requirements, as Turkey still excludes Somalia from its Electronic Visa (e-Visa) Application System.
The continued exclusion has drawn attention because Somalia occupies a central position in Turkey’s foreign policy and strategic ambitions in the Horn of Africa. Ankara has secured access to key maritime routes, strengthened its military presence, expanded trade and investment, and entered into significant oil and gas agreements with Mogadishu. Yet Somali passport holders remain unable to benefit from the convenience of Turkey’s online visa platform.
Turkey officially launched its Electronic Visa Application System on April 17, 2013, allowing eligible travellers from numerous countries to obtain visas online before travelling. Over the years, the programme has expanded to include several African nations such as Algeria, Cabo Verde, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Libya, Mauritius, Namibia, Senegal and South Africa.
Somalia, however, has remained absent from the list. Holders of both ordinary and official Somali passports are still required to apply for visas through Turkish embassies, consulates or authorised visa application centres, making the process longer and more demanding than that faced by citizens of several African countries with comparatively fewer diplomatic and economic ties to Turkey.
Turkey’s engagement with Somalia dates back to 2011, when President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan visited Mogadishu during the devastating famine that attracted global humanitarian concern. That visit marked the beginning of a new era in bilateral relations, with Turkey positioning itself as one of Somalia’s most committed development partners.
According to Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ankara has since delivered more than $1 billion in humanitarian and technical development assistance. The support has financed healthcare services, schools, infrastructure projects, municipal development, institutional capacity building and other programmes aimed at supporting Somalia’s long-term recovery.
Beyond aid, Turkey has steadily expanded its commercial footprint in the East African nation. Turkish investments in Somalia are estimated at around $100 million, while Turkish companies currently manage Mogadishu’s international airport and seaport, two of the country’s most strategically important transport and commercial gateways.
Trade between the two countries has also grown significantly. Bilateral trade increased from $187.3 million in 2018 to approximately $250.85 million in 2019, reflecting stronger commercial ties and growing economic cooperation.
Somalia has also become a cornerstone of Turkey’s security strategy in the Horn of Africa. Ankara operates Camp TURKSOM in Mogadishu, its largest overseas military training facility, where thousands of Somali soldiers and officers have received professional military training to strengthen the country’s fight against the al-Shabaab insurgency.
The defence partnership expanded further in February 2024 when both countries signed a landmark 10-year defence and economic cooperation agreement. Under the agreement, Turkey committed to rebuilding, training and equipping Somalia’s navy while helping safeguard the country’s territorial waters against piracy, terrorism, illegal fishing and other maritime threats.
Somalia’s strategic location along the Indian Ocean, close to the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea and the Suez Canal shipping corridor, has further increased its value to Turkey as Ankara seeks to expand its geopolitical influence across Africa and the Middle East.
Turkey has also played an active diplomatic role in regional affairs. Ankara facilitated dialogue between Somalia and Ethiopia after tensions escalated over Ethiopia’s agreement with Somaliland, reinforcing Turkey’s position as a key regional mediator.
Energy cooperation has become another major pillar of the bilateral relationship. During a meeting in Istanbul on April 16, 2026, President Erdoğan and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud discussed expanding cooperation in trade, security, energy and regional stability.
Turkey has since deployed the drilling vessel Çağrı Bey to conduct offshore oil exploration along Somalia’s coastline, marking Ankara’s first deep-sea drilling operation outside Turkish territory. The move followed agreements covering the exploration, development, production and transportation of oil and natural gas from both offshore and onshore Somali energy blocks.
Despite these expanding partnerships, Somalia continues to face significant economic and geopolitical challenges. The country remains one of the world’s most fragile economies, although it possesses considerable long-term potential through its extensive coastline, fisheries, livestock exports, growing telecommunications sector, thriving mobile money ecosystem, remittance inflows and untapped oil and gas resources.
At the same time, Somalia finds itself navigating increasing international pressure, including regional tensions following Israel’s recognition of Somaliland and broader immigration and security concerns affecting Somali citizens abroad.
Against this backdrop, Turkey’s decision to keep Somalia outside its e-Visa programme continues to highlight the contrast between the close strategic partnership enjoyed by both governments and the travel restrictions still faced by ordinary Somali citizens. While Ankara continues to deepen cooperation in defence, energy, trade and diplomacy, visa policy remains one area where many observers believe the relationship has yet to reflect the full strength of the partnership.
