Turkey deployed three F-16 fighter jets to Mogadishu on Wednesday amid increasing Turkish investments in Somalia’s energy and space sectors.
Somali officials familiar with the matter told Middle East Eye that Ankara has been constructing a facility to host the F-16s over the past few months.
Turkish engineers have reportedly been working at the international airport for several days to prepare the site for the arrival of the jets.
Analysis of satellite images by MEE indicates that several new hangars have been constructed at the airport since September.
Open-source data indicates a number of Turkish cargo flights have taken place in the past 10 days, possibly delivering spare parts and ammunition for the jets.
A source familiar with the deployment told MEE that the F-16s were stationed in Somalia as a precursor to Ankara’s plans to send an oil exploration platform to Somalia.