(22-02-24) MOGADISHU (Halqabsi News) — In a sharply worded statement issued on Thursday, Ali Dheere, the spokesperson for the militant group Al-Shabaab, lambasted the Defence and Economic Cooperation Agreement between Somalia and Turkey. Dheere levelled serious accusations against Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Somaliland’s Muse Bihi Abdi, claiming they have “effectively ceded control over Somali maritime areas to Turkey and Ethiopia.”
Dheere’s critique vehemently opposed the nature of the agreement itself. “This is nothing short of a betrayal,” Dheere said, alleging that Turkey has overstepped its bounds in managing key Somali infrastructure. “Turkey has established the largest base in the world for them to have outside their country,” he asserted, pointing to the perceived overreach of Ankara’s influence in Somalia.
The Al-Shabaab spokesman expanded his criticism to include Turkey’s economic and military engagement in the region. “They’ve dominated Mogadishu’s business landscape and enlisted Somali soldiers and politicians to further their interests,” Dheere claimed, casting doubt on Turkey’s intentions and its commitment to Islamic solidarity. He cited Ankara’s foreign policy towards Palestine and Syria as evidence of what he perceives as Turkey’s failure to uphold Muslim welfare.
The crescendo of Dheere’s statement was a bold declaration of Al-Shabaab’s intent to resist Turkish influence. “We will not allow Turkey to assume control over the Somali sea,” Dheere proclaimed, emphasizing the group’s determination to disrupt the defence pact and thwart Ethiopia’s alleged maritime ambitions.
The Somali-Turkish agreement, aimed at addressing the multifaceted challenges of terrorism, piracy, illicit fishing, and environmental degradation due to toxic waste dumping in Somali waters, is seen with optimism by many Somalis. They believe this partnership between the Somali Armed Forces and Turkey will be crucial in combating those threats and the enduring threat of Al-Shabaab, thereby paving the way for lasting peace in Somalia.
Halqabsi News
