Turkey’s influence on Somali military increase as it gifts armored personnel carriers to Somalia

 During the last week of August, Turkey had donated 12 armored personnel carriers of the Somalia military which was apparently for the fight against al-Qaeda affiliated group al-Shabaab.

The ceremony was held in Mogadishu, capital of Somalia, where Somali Defense Minister Hassan Ali Mohamed and Somali armed forces commander Gen. Odawa Yusuf Rageh were also present as Turkey handed over the carriers to the Somali military. But the military is not happy with this donation. They fear that this would lead to increasing Turkish influence in the country and its order. A few sources close to the military revealed that a large group of high-ranking officials and their subordinates are concerned that these favours form Turkey will mean Somalia losing control of the federal army. These kinds of donations will increase the burden on Somalia’s government where the administration will be forced to act according to Turkey.

Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo, also known as ‘Farmaajo’ has grown very dependent on Turkey due to Turkey’s promise of giving him military support when required. Since then he has been acting as a puppet to Turkey and Qatar. This discussion about losing military control among the Somali military heads is not new. This began when Farmaajo had kept Somalia’s army at Turkey's disposal in return for favours. There have been objections for a long time now but most of these objections and incidents go unrecorded.

The sources also revealed that the Turkish intrusion or infusion on Somalia will threaten the authority of Somalian military and army heads and they will have to act under the wings of Turkish influence. They fear that there is a bigger and more dangerous motive that the president is aiming at by letting Turks inside Somalia.

Excessive authority of Turkey will demean the commands of Somali army and conflict will definitely arise from here. This will create instability in the country which might lead Farmaajo to postpone or cancel the elections. This is a possibility that Somali figures have been pondering over for weeks and months.

Even though the president had promised that elections will take place in their due time and nothing will be compromised, he was unable to get support of many leaders and people, especially because of his increasing proximity with Turkey and Qatar. So, it will not be entirely shocking if he announces canceling elections in the coming days and it will only prove how strong is the hold of Turkey over Somalia.