The Somali Navy to Use Drones for Coastal Patrols

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamed aboard Kınalıada F514,a Turkish naval ship at Mogadishu harbour on 23 April 2024

Mogadishu (PP News Desk) — As part of the comprehensive defence and economic agreements between the Federal Republic of Somalia and Türkiye, the Somali Navy will begin using state-of-the-art technology to patrol the Somali coast. The Somali Navy will use Turkish-manufactured special drones for reconnaissance missions to ensure maritime security. These drones will gather intelligence on pirates, illegal fishing, toxic waste disposal and unauthorised ships.

The defense pact, signed earlier this year between Somalia and Türkiye, has unsettled other security partners of Somalia, such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE). DP World, a parastatal of the UAE, controls several ports in Somalia and aims to acquire other Somali ports.

The Somali coastal guards’ work will be enhanced by the Somali Navy

The UAE’s discord with the Federal Government of Somalia resulted from the latter’s closer ties with Türkiye, despite Abu Dhabi’s significant role in uniting the opposition against the previous federal government led by President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo. UAE terminated security budget subsidies and training for the Somali Federal Government’s security forces and army.

The first batch of Somali naval troops, trained in Ankara, will collaborate with a Turkish naval fleet operating along the Somali coast. Türkiye has a military base in Somalia.

© Puntland Post, 2024