Turkey Begins Building Rocket-Launching Facility in Somalia

(Bloomberg) -- Turkey is building a facility to launch rockets from Somalia, the Horn of Africa nation’s president said, boosting Ankara’s long-range rocket testing program.

The project will help generate jobs and revenue for the nation, Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said at an event in Mogadishu. Somalia’s location on the eastern tip of mainland Africa is ideal for firing toward the Indian Ocean without the risk of debris falling into residential areas and other countries, Bloomberg reported in September.

The Somalia facility will advance Turkey’s aspiration to join a space race traditionally dominated by global powers. The nation has had plans to launch a rocket for some years. Mohamud didn’t disclose the location of the project. Turkey is one of the few foreign powers strengthening ties with Somalia as the African nation tries to rebuild after years of clan warfare.

“I personally believe that the importance of Somalia hosting a launchpad for Turkish satellites is even more significant than the billions of dollars and opportunities that the project will generate,” Mohamud said.

Over the past decade, Turkey has expanded its influence through defense cooperation and infrastructure projects, and has plans for hydrocarbon exploration. It’s involved in mediation between the government in Mogadishu, the capital, and leaders in Somaliland, a semi-autonomous region.