Wednesday March 19, 2025 {HMC} Sources tell MEE minister’s efforts to deepen military, energy and aerospace cooperation with Ankara unsettled Washington
Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud dismissed his defence minister, Abuldkadir Mohamed Nur, on Sunday following lobbying efforts by the US military, sources told Middle East Eye.
Nur has been reassigned as the minister of ports amid indications that US military support for Somalia’s fight against al-Shabab – an armed group designated as a terrorist organisation by Washington – has slowed.
Two sources familiar with the situation told MEE that Nur’s efforts to deepen Somalia’s military, energy and aerospace cooperation with Turkey unsettled Washington, which maintains closer ties with the United Arab Emirates in the Horn of Africa.
Under Nur’s leadership, Somalia and Turkey signed a comprehensive naval, trade and defence agreement in February last year.
While the full details of the deal remain undisclosed, sources indicate that it grants Turkey the responsibility of safeguarding Somali waters, establishing a Somali navy and assisting in the exploration of energy resources, as a response to Ethiopia’s naval deal with the breakaway region of Somaliland.
Nur, a graduate of Ankara University and a fluent Turkish speaker, has cultivated strong ties with Turkey’s leadership over the years.
US pressure
A Somali official told MEE that US military officers repeatedly pressured Mohamud to dismiss Nur, citing concerns over his lack of coordination with American forces.
“They also demanded access to the February agreement,” the official said. “These discussions happened multiple times throughout the year as US lobbying efforts intensified.”
The official also noted that Washington was displeased with Turkey’s plans to establish a spaceport in Somalia and potentially launch rockets, which could be perceived as long-range ballistic missile tests.
Additionally, Ankara’s recent agreements to explore oil and gas resources in Somali territory reportedly did not sit well with US officials.
The official and another source told MEE that Turkey’s deployment of two Bayraktar Akinci armed drones to Mogadishu on Tuesday to combat al-Shabab was the final straw.
“The Americans essentially made it clear that if Nur wasn’t removed, they would reconsider their security cooperation with Mogadishu against al-Shabab,” the second source said.
Earlier this month, the US embassy in Mogadishu issued a security warning about a possible al-Shabab attack on the city’s airport and other locations, leading to flight cancellations by Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines.
Meanwhile, in February, US President Donald Trump ordered air strikes targeting the Islamic State group’s leadership in Somalia.
In March, Washington also cut funding to the Danab Special Forces, an elite Somali army unit trained and supported by US Africa Command.
Somali Finance Minister Bihi Iman Egeh told parliament that the government now needs to seek alternative funding sources to cover Danab’s salaries.
Ahmed Abdullahi Sheikh, a former Danab commander, praised Mohamud’s decision to remove Nur. “I wholeheartedly welcome the change in leadership,” he said.
Turkish-Somali relations
A Turkish official, however, downplayed the impact of Nur’s dismissal on Ankara-Mogadishu relations, emphasising that Turkey’s ties with Somalia are based on institutional cooperation rather than personal connections.
“This will not affect our relationship,” the official said. “All agreements with Mogadishu were signed with the government and the Somali president.”
The official also noted Turkey’s significant contributions to Somalia, including investments in infrastructure and defence.
Tunc Demirtas, a regional expert at Ankara-based think tank SETA, expressed confidence that Turkey would continue supporting Somalia’s counterterrorism efforts.
“Moving forward, the focus will be on strengthening institutional structures rather than individual actors, ensuring that strategic cooperation continues in alignment with mutual interests,” he said.
MEE has asked the US government for comment.
By Ragip Soylu in Ankara
