Turkey has officially launched the first phase of construction for a spaceport project in Somalia after completing design and feasibility studies, Turkish officials said on Tuesday, marking a major expansion of Ankara’s technological and strategic footprint in the Horn of Africa.
Turkey’s Minister of Industry and Technology, Mehmet Fatih Kacir, confirmed the start of the project hours after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the plan during a joint press conference with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Istanbul.
The facility, described by Turkish officials as a spaceport or satellite launch base, will be built on land allocated by Somalia under a bilateral cooperation agreement between the two countries.
Kacir said Somalia was selected following extensive technical assessments, citing its geographical advantages due to its proximity to the equator — a key factor for efficient satellite launches.
“Based on our studies, Somalia emerged as the most suitable location for this investment,” Kacir told Turkey’s Anadolu news agency. “Equatorial locations provide significant technical and cost advantages in space launch operations.”
The project forms part of Turkey’s National Space Programme and is being implemented jointly by the Ministry of Industry and Technology and the Turkish Space Agency.
Turkey aims to develop independent launch capabilities for satellites and rockets, reducing reliance on foreign infrastructure while building a domestic space industry that includes rocket engines, propulsion technologies, fuel systems and ground support facilities.
“Having our own spaceport is a strategic step that will enhance Turkey’s competitiveness, independence and global influence in space activities,” Kacir said.
He added that the investment is expected to generate long-term economic returns for Turkey while also contributing to Somalia’s development through infrastructure, technology transfer and employment opportunities.
According to Turkish officials, the Somali site offers additional advantages, including a long coastline, favorable year-round weather conditions and relatively low air and maritime traffic, which improve safety and operational efficiency.
Once completed, the facility is expected to serve both national and commercial satellite launches, positioning Turkey among a small group of countries with independent space launch infrastructure.
Somalia has increasingly deepened ties with Turkey over the past decade, with Ankara investing heavily in security, infrastructure, health and education sectors. Turkey operates its largest overseas military training base in Mogadishu and is one of Somalia’s key diplomatic and development partners.
The spaceport project comes at a time of heightened geopolitical competition in the Horn of Africa, a region of growing strategic importance due to its proximity to major global shipping routes in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Neither government disclosed the total cost of the project or a timeline for completion.