Security forces
Somali Navy
The Somali Navy was founded in 1964 with Soviet help, with bases at Berbera and Kismayo, and dissolved with the state in 1990–91. It was re-established in June 2009 but stayed small. Under a ten-year defence and economic agreement signed with Turkey on 8 February 2024 and approved by parliament 213 to 3, Turkey is to build, train and equip it. Its exact strength has not been published.
In short
The Somali Navy is the federal government's sea service. It was a working force in the 1970s and 1980s, disappeared in 1991, and has been rebuilt slowly since 2009, mainly with Turkish help. This page records what the sources say, without taking sides. The land army is described in Somali National Army and the earlier forces in Somali armed forces, 1960–1991.
Founding and Soviet era, 1964–1991
Wikipedia records that the navy was founded in 1964 with Soviet advisers, with bases at Berbera on the Gulf of Aden and Kismayo on the Indian Ocean and a radar site at Merca. Its first vessels were Soviet patrol and torpedo boats. In 1977 President Siad Barre ended the treaty with Moscow and expelled Soviet advisers over Soviet support for Ethiopia in the Ogaden war. By 1990 it had two Osa-II missile boats, four torpedo boats, several patrol craft and a landing ship. It dissolved as the government fell in 1990–91, and some vessels reportedly went to Aden (Wikipedia, Somali Navy).
Re-establishment, 2009–2023
The navy was re-established in June 2009 under Admiral Farah Omar Ahmed. Up to 500 recruits trained in Mogadishu that year as the first part of a planned 5,000-strong force; in December 2009 its commander described it as "practically nothing" (Wikipedia). An August 2011 agreement between the Transitional Federal Government and Puntland called for a Somali marine force. In January 2020 Turkey donated patrol and landing vessels (Wikipedia). Puntland's own maritime force is described in Puntland security forces.
The Turkey agreement, 2024
On 8 February 2024 Somalia's defence minister, Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, and Turkey's defence minister, Yaşar Güler, signed a Defence and Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement in Turkey. The cabinet approved it, and both houses of parliament endorsed it by 213 votes to 3. It runs for ten years (Voice of America, 21 February 2024).
Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre called it "a historic day for the country" and said Turkey would build, train and equip the navy to protect Somali waters from terrorism, piracy and "foreign interference" (Defense News, AP, 21 February 2024). An unnamed Somali official told VOA the deal allows Turkish warships to deploy in Somali waters (VOA). The full text has not been published.
The deal came weeks after Ethiopia's memorandum of understanding with Somaliland of 1 January 2024. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said it was not aimed at Ethiopia and called the timing "just a coincidence" (VOA). Analyst Mohamed Gaas of the Raad Peace Research Institute told AP it gave Somalia "crucial support", and Turkey a chance "to expand its influence" in Africa (Defense News, AP).
Since 2024
Wikipedia records that Turkey delivered two helicopters in June 2025, and that a naval training base near Cadale in Middle Shabelle was reported in early 2026. Its listed equipment includes Turkish-built patrol boats. It gives no reliable personnel figure (Wikipedia).
Sources differ
- Founding year. 1964 or 1965.
- Revenue terms. Some reports said Turkey would receive 30 per cent of revenue from Somalia's exclusive economic zone; the agreement's text has not been published.
- Size. No official figure; estimates speak of hundreds of personnel.
Read the primary sources yourself
Sources
- Wikipedia, Somali Navy · en.wikipedia.org
- Voice of America, 21 February 2024 · voanews.com
- Defense News, AP, 21 February 2024 · defensenews.com
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Read the callWhere this matters
- Muqdisho (Mogadishu) and BanaadirMogadishu (Muqdisho) is Somalia's capital and makes up the Banadir region, with about 2.97 million people in 20 districts.
- Jowhar (Johar) and Middle ShabelleMiddle Shabelle is the farming region along the Shabelle river north of Mogadishu, with Jowhar as its capital and about 1 to 1.26 million people.
- Kismaayo (Kismayo) and Lower JubaLower Juba is the far southern region on the border with Kenya, with the port city of Kismayo (Kismaayo) as its capital and about 1.2 million people.
Same era
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- Birmingham (Somali diaspora)About 17,000 to 21,600 Somalis live in Birmingham (Census 2021), mostly in Nechells, Newtown, Small Heath and Alum Rock. History, work, health and ties home.
- Bristol (Somali diaspora)9,167 people in Bristol identified as Somali or Somalilander in Census 2021, the city's largest minority group. Where they live, work, housing, leaders and ties home.
- Calgary, Alberta, Canada2,845 people of Somali origin lived in Calgary at the 2021 Census, plus 890 in Brooks. How they came, who serves them and what they face.
- Denmark (Somali diaspora)21,885 people of Somali origin lived in Denmark in 2026, half born there. Numbers, history, work, permit reviews, and ties home.
- DjiboutiAbout 13,900 refugees from Somalia live in Djibouti (Aug 2026): numbers since 1990, Ali Addeh, Holl-Holl, the 2017 refugee law, Arta 2000 and 2025 returns.
Keep reading
- AMISOM, the African Union Mission in Somalia, 2007–2022AMISOM, 2007–2022: mandate, troop contributors and numbers, commanders, main operations, losses, funding and the record of abuses, until it became ATMIS.
- ATMIS, the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia, 2022–2024ATMIS, 2022–2024: why it was created, its drawdown in phases, the bases handed over, the attacks on its camps, and the move to AUSSOM.
- AUSSOM, the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia, 2025 to nowAUSSOM, the AU mission since January 2025: how it was approved, its size and troop allocations, Egypt and Ethiopia, Burundi's exit, and the funding gap.
- Commanders of the Somali army since 1960 (Taliyaha Ciidanka Xoogga)Every commander of the Somali armed forces since 1960, with their dates: the Republic, the military government, the transitional government and the federal government.
- Foreign forces in SomaliaWhich foreign states have deployed or trained forces in Somalia since 2006: Ethiopia, Kenya, the United States, Turkey, the UAE, Egypt, Eritrea and others, from the sources.
- Turkey's military in Somalia: Camp TURKSOM, drones and the sea pactTurkey's military role in Somalia since 2017: the TURKSOM base and the units it trains, armed drones and helicopters, the 2024 defence pact and navy, troop mandates, and the offshore oil link.