This archive report was first published on 19 October 2019.
As African peacekeepers under the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) prepare to withdraw in 2021, Somalia is seeking military aid from Turkey and Eritrea to combat the Al-Shabaab insurgency.
According to sources, Somalia is negotiating with Turkey and Eritrea for the deployment of their military commanders and supply of equipment to support the war against Al-Shabaab.
However, any deployment would require the approval of the United Nations Security Council, which is aware that Somalia's security forces lack the capacity to protect the entire country.
Turkey has been a leading donor to Somalia, investing billions of dollars in infrastructure projects, including roads, hospitals, and schools. Eritrea, on the other hand, has recently restored relations with Somalia after nearly 15 years of animosity.
Analysts believe that if Turkey and Eritrea were to step in, it could be a win for Somalia, given that Amisom has only trained 10,000 soldiers out of the planned 30,000 before exiting.
"If the idea of African solutions for African problems has failed, then Somalis have no option but to seek help from Turkey and Eritrea or any other willing nation," said Abdiwahab Sheikh Abdisamad, an analyst with Southlink Consultants.
Dr. Abdisamad added that Al-Shabaab continues to portray the peacekeepers as an occupying force rather than a protection force.
