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Somalia and the outside powers

The countries and bodies with the biggest stake in Somalia today, from the neighbours to the Gulf, Turkey, the US, the EU, the AU and the UN, and what each wants.

Last checked 2026-11-12 22 sources Reading time: 3 min English draft · native-speaker review in progress
  • Türkiye. Main Somali partners: FGS Role and achievements: Brokered the Ankara Declaration (Dec 2024). Base and training (TURKSOM since 2017). F-16s, drones. Manages the airport and port. TRT Somalia. Offered mediation in 2026. Stance on Somali unity: Rejects Somaliland recognition Source: 710122534
  • UAE. Main Somali partners: Puntland, Jubaland, Somaliland (Berbera) Role and achievements: Air support for Hilaac. Port investments. Agreements revoked by FGS on 12 Jan 2026. Reported role in Israel's recognition (analysts). Stance on Somali unity: Ambiguous. Works with FMS and Somaliland. Source: 12182021
  • Egypt. Main Somali partners: FGS Role and achievements: Strategic partnership (Jan 2025). 1,091 AUSSOM troops. Arms and training. Rivalry with Ethiopia over GERD. Stance on Somali unity: Strongly pro-territorial integrity Source: 10122143
  • Ethiopia. Main Somali partners: FGS (post-Ankara), some FMS Role and achievements: 2024 Somaliland MoU, then Ankara Declaration. 2,500 AUSSOM plus about 5,000 bilateral troops. Troops in South West. Stance on Somali unity: Affirmed Somalia's sovereignty in Ankara Source: 253443
  • Kenya. Main Somali partners: Jubaland (historically) Role and achievements: Co-brokered Jubaland (2013). 1,410 AUSSOM troops. Hosted the Nairobi opposition front (Oct 2025). Laftagareen went to Kenya. Affected by al-Shabaab attacks. Stance on Somali unity: Supports Somali unity Source: 512132129
  • Eritrea. Main Somali partners: FGS Role and achievements: Asmara meeting with Egypt and Somalia, 10 Oct 2024 Stance on Somali unity: Pro-FGS Source: 25
  • Djibouti. Main Somali partners: FGS Role and achievements: 1,520 AUSSOM troops Stance on Somali unity: Condemned the recognition Source: 1021
  • Saudi Arabia. Main Somali partners: FGS Role and achievements: Military cooperation agreement (9 Feb 2026). Saudi-UAE rivalry in the Horn. Stance on Somali unity: GCC and OIC condemned the recognition Source: 11842
  • Qatar. Main Somali partners: — Role and achievements: No specific opened source. GCC condemnation applies. Stance on Somali unity: Rejects the recognition (as GCC member) Source: 42
  • United States. Main Somali partners: FGS (counter-terrorism), Puntland Role and achievements: AFRICOM strikes (88 in 2026). Aid to FGS suspended Jan 2026. Ending UNSOS support after 2026. Co-mediated the May 2026 talks. Delegation to Garowe. Treasury designations. Stance on Somali unity: Says Somalia policy is unchanged. Defended Israel's right to recognise. Declined a recognition deal in 2025. Source: 191028313441
  • United Kingdom. Main Somali partners: FGS and opposition (mediator) Role and achievements: Co-mediated May 2026. Funds RVI's Somali Dialogue Platform. Stance on Somali unity: Urged Mogadishu-Hargeisa cooperation Source: 181027
  • EU. Main Somali partners: AU, FGS Role and achievements: €600m for AU peace operations (2022). Backed AU mediation in 2021. Stance on Somali unity: Supports unity (France and Denmark at the UNSC) Source: 102223
  • China. Main Somali partners: FGS Role and achievements: — Stance on Somali unity: "Somaliland is an integral part of Somali territory" Source: 10
  • Israel. Main Somali partners: Somaliland Role and achievements: Recognition (26 Dec 2025). FM visit (Jan 2026). Reported security partnership. Stance on Somali unity: Recognises Somaliland's independence Source: 11031
  • African Union. Main Somali partners: FGS, all Role and achievements: AMISOM → ATMIS (Apr 2022) → AUSSOM (Jan 2025, about 11,900 personnel). Kampala summit plans a phased exit. Condemned the 2021 extension. Stance on Somali unity: Rejects recognition Source: 921222310
  • Uganda. Main Somali partners: FGS Role and achievements: About 4,500 AUSSOM troops plus bilateral forces Stance on Somali unity: — Source: 2134
  • United Nations. Main Somali partners: FGS, all Role and achievements: UNSOM → UNTMIS (res. 2753), which ended Oct 2026. 2713 sanctions regime. Panel of Experts. Stance on Somali unity: Supports territorial integrity Source: 929
  • Arab League / IGAD / OIC. Main Somali partners: FGS Role and achievements: Statements Stance on Somali unity: Rejected the recognition Source: 101242

Sources

  1. 7 · aljazeera.com
  2. 10 · press.un.org
  3. 12 · heritageinstitute.org
  4. 25 · orfonline.org
  5. 34 · military.africa
  6. 18 · geeska.com
  7. 20 · hiraalinstitute.org
  8. 21 · ctc.westpoint.edu
  9. 43 · hornreview.org
  10. 5 · blogs.lse.ac.uk
  11. 13 · heritageinstitute.org
  12. 29 · garoweonline.com
  13. 1 · en.wikipedia.org
  14. 42 · english.aawsat.com
  15. 9 · securitycouncilreport.org
  16. 28 · garoweonline.com
  17. 31 · responsiblestatecraft.org
  18. 41 · aljazeera.com
  19. 8 · en.wikipedia.org
  20. 27 · riftvalley.net
  21. 22 · thenewhumanitarian.org
  22. 23 · securitycouncilreport.org

Gathered in our research record “Somalia's political landscape, 2012 to 2026”. Wikipedia is used only as a backup.

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