Brief Reflection About A Decade-Long Partnership Between Turkey And Somalia

MOGADISHU; SOMALIA. Relations between Turkey and Somalia have a history dating back to the Ottoman empire. Turkish embassy in Mogadishu was inaugurated in 1979 closed in 1991 due to civil strife and was officially re-opened on 1st November 2011.

A decade has elapsed since Turkish president Recep Tayyib Erdogan in Mogadishu at the height of one of Somalia's worst famines announcing grandiose projects like the launch of Turkish Airlines flights to Somali capital. The remodeling of a hospital and the opening and the opening of the biggest embassy in Africa. All designed to show that Turkey's mission goes well beyond aid and that Ankara is an alternative to Somalia's traditional donors, Erdogan's historic visit earned him high praise throughout Somalia.

Although his trip appeared to be a heartfelt humanitarian mission, in reality it was part of a long-term strategically planned efforts Erdogan had been scouting out Somalia as early as 2007, when he met former president of the transitional federal government Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed and asked him to provide a list of what Somali needs. His efforts were counterproductive, however until president Sharif Sheikh Ahmed assumed authority in late 2008. Sharif visited Turkey three times between 2009 and 2011, reluctantly signing a military pact with Turkey, which asked to help Somalia with Security.

There were plethora of pacts signed with Turkey and the deals were opaque and murky and were not approved by the federal parliament of Somalia and therefore it makes null and void.

If Turkey had come to Somalia before 2011, it would have been seen as a foreign occupying forces willing to annex the entire country. Just like the African Union Mission in Somalia. (Amisom) that were deployed in Somalia in early 2007 and there was a pervasive animosity and antagonism among Troops contributing countries in terms of military strategy and chain of command as well as leadership structure.

But in 2011; amid the devastation of one of the worst famine that adversely afflicted the country and was recorded to be the worst famine in the country's history.

Turkish self-proclaimed humanitarian mission was perceived differently. Erdogan's historic visit to Somalia was well- orchestrated and well-timed; it came during a holy month of Ramadan, nine days before the Eid festival, after 250,000 Somalis had starved to death and during an election year when Somalia's donors were scrambling to address a major humanitarian crisis.

Ever since Erdogan declared 2005 the year of Africa, he has pursued every Muslim Majority African country that is ravaged by conflict, locked out by IMF. Starved by man-made climate change and neglected by the west a fragile Somalia checks all the boxes.

A decade on, Somalis are starting to realize that Turkey has evolved from friend to foe, trade partner to trade protectionist, state builder to outright spoiler. Turkey is an opportunist just like any other country and has its own agenda focused on geoeconomics and Geopolitics, instead of facilitating Somalia's development Turkey has used State-sponsored corporations to exploit its assets all as part of development trap cloaked under the guise of religion.

Post-2011 Turkey's humanitarian mission gradually shifted from an emphasis on soft power to a more assertive, politicized state-building efforts involving defacto and dejure exploitation of Somalia's federal government development projects and monopolization of the economy in Mogadishu's Benadir region. Turkish private entities Albayrak Group and Favori LLC were offered lucrative no-bid contracts to run Mogadishu's Port and Airport and protected by Ankara as was documented in 2016 UN monitoring report, these companies have allegedly been engaged in criminal practices ranging from bribery of government ministers to money laundering.

Somali political and economic scholars had polarized the issue of who are the real beneficiaries or which country benefited most in this decade-long partnership. Some said Somalia while others said Turkey it requires to scrutinize deeply and on the other hand there was highly organized ceremony hosted by Turkish embassy in Somalia and was attended by both Somali and Turkish officials and they jointly commemorated the 10th anniversary of the partnership between Turkey and Somalia...

It was August 2011 when the current president of Turkey Recep Tayyab Erdogan made a bold visit to Somalia in Solidarity with the Somali people at the critical time and to show the world that Somali needs attention. Severe drought has affected our country as a whole from the environment to livestock to human. people fled from their homes to Mogadishu in search of the basic needs to survive. In response to that humanitarian catastrophe, Turkish people and their government provided drugs, food, clean water and life-saving medicines to the people who had impacted those humanitarian emergencies. Up till now. Turkey is a major ally to the Somali government politically and contribute to the military, social service, business and infrastructure development..

After a decade of partnership between Somalia and Turkey. The Somali government acknowledged publicly the role of Turkish government and its people in providing development assistance to the Somali government and its people by stating that this longstanding partnership which is dated back to the Ottoman empire will last forever. Taking into account this statement and the influence of Turkey to Somalia commercially. Somali economists would like to open discussion about current trade relations between Turkey and Somalia and if there is a chance that we can promote our resource abroad.

The relations between Turkey and Somalia has a long history that dates back to centuries and the current development cooperation is multi-tiered which includes economic, military, social service and infrastructure partnership. Turkey contributed to the renovation of the economic infrastructure of the capital city such as main roads. The airport and seaport. This has facilitated the daily business operations of the capital city and reduced the time and other uncertainty that involve business management.

From the social service perspective. Turkey has contributed to the refurbishment of Digfeer hospitalwhich has improved the health sector of Somalia and has kept it to the international standards or benchmark in terms of health facility. In-kind expatriates and the quality of the drugs they prescribe to patients. On the other hand. Turkey has built schools in Somalia and provided both undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships to Somali students who are planning to advance their future career and professions.

Another tangible example of the partnership between Somali government and Turkey private sector is the authorization of Somali government to Turkey firms to manage the airport and seaport which are key sources to the revenue generations of the Somali federal government these companies will operate under the model of build-operate- transfer to renovate and improve the capacity of those sectors.

As a result this has increased higher operations efficiency of those sectors and increased the transparency in the use of funds. Moreover; the public had enjoyed and access to improved and high quality services and employment opportunities for the Somali labor force. This is the perspective of some economists.

The direct flight of Turkish Airlines between Mogadishu and Istanbul which officially embarked in September 2013 was a noble and giant stride towards our economic revival or resuscitation and allowed Turkish businesses to thrive and engage easily in Somalia. In addition it also helped and incentivized the Somali diaspora return to their country and invest it by establishing new business and enterprises. It has improved the lead time of imports and continuously improved business processes across Somalia; Besides that. It convinced Somali businesses to shift their money into Turkey and invest in real-estate and housing industry. Another Turkish company has opened Decale hotel, a five star hotel inside Mogadishu international Airport which is the first of its kind that delivers exquisite rooms and the best A la Carte restaurant in Mogadishu Somalia.

The humanitarian intervention of Turkey in Somalia was crucial as many believe and was important step towards increasing the product knowledge that Turkish companies can offer to Somalia this has increased the import and the influx of Turkish products in Somalia. From food to clothes to furniture and drugs, Somali Business owners have invested alot in Turkish products. Moreover; the adverse political stands of the current government of Somalia towards the Republic of Kenya and United Arab Emirates coerced Somali Business owners to establish business offices in Turkey and invest in their real estate and housing industry.

Somalia is located strategically at the Gulf of Aden just at the entrance of the red sea and the Suez Canal, which is crucial shipping lane connecting to the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean sea due to the importance of this Maritime route to the World economy and the extensive number of ships that pass through the strait has offered a compelling reason for the Turkish government to open its largest embassy across the world in Somalia and due to distinct security actors. Turkish military involvement in Somalia has became significant and crucial.

Considering the partnership of Turkey with Somali federal government as a positive strategic tie between the two countries can enhance the interests of both countries politically, economically and commercially the economists believe there is a great chance that Somalia could market to the world from the natural resources and income generating sources such as agriculture, livestock, fishing, tourism and natural oil and gas by receiving the know-how and technology from Turkish business through building business partnership with them. That mindset is required from Wealthy Somali business owners by building trust in themselves and having a common goal of developing their country and community.

Stable, legal environment system that motivates foreign investors to do business in Somalia is the number one priority that many international businesses are skeptical about putting their foot in Somalia knowing that the country's strategic position and the active and cheap labor forces in which our community can provide professional legal consulting firms, skillful lawyers and the endorsement of most essential commercial laws can boost the chance of Mogadishu to became a business hub for the continent and the world as well.

Energy and solar system are becoming another unique factor that we cannot establish myriad, Small, different kinds of manufacturing businesses in the country due to the high electricity costs which is produced mainly from imported petroleum..

This also becomes major factor that the country cannot attract foreign direct investment. However; if the mindset of our business leaders became collaborative and cooperative among themselves instead of competing with each other, and provide a complete service package that covers the basic needs of the country in the energy sector.

In essence the partnership between Somalia and Turkey and shed light into the areas that we can expand further to benefit from this partnership and Somali people recognize the efforts of private sector that has shown entrepreneurship and resilience and succeeded to maintain the economic activity within the country during the challenging times after the collapse of Central authority.

Finally the economists remind the private sectors to adapt with the dynamic business and technology environment and familiarize themselves to exploit the benefits of globalization with the strategic location of the country and expand their operations into the continent starting from the neighbouring countries.

Critical views of the politicians and economists they believe Erdogan has exploited Somalia's fragility to pursue his ambition of making Turkey an international power and furthering his "Neo-ottoman" aspirations. Erdogan's new empires is a thinly veiled feudal system that depends on Militarism and economic exploitation for its survival. It is threat to Somalia's stability and prosperity and if replicated elsewhere, it could destabilize and jeopardize other countries too.

MOHAMED HUSSEIN MENTALIST. Author, blogger, prominent researcher, Horn of Africa Affairs analyst and senior lecturer at Mogadishu University.

AUTHOR, holds BA in English Language and literature at Mogadishu University and BA in Business administration at Simad University. Master of arts in applied Linguistics at Kisii University in Nairobi, as well as Master of peace and conflict studies at Uppsala University in Sweden.