Uganda suspends defence cooperation with Türkiye

Uganda has suspended all military and defence cooperation with Türkiye, a move reportedly linked to disagreements regarding Uganda’s military presence in Somalia and Türkiye’s expanding security role in the region. While some reports suggest the suspension follows protests in Kampala regarding the extradition of a political commentator, sources indicate deeper tensions involving the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). As Somali security forces, trained by Türkiye, grow in capacity, Mogadishu has reportedly requested the withdrawal of Ugandan troops.

Separately, Türkiye’s Presidential Center for Combating Disinformation has denied social media reports claiming that Somalia has imposed new visa restrictions on Turkish citizens. The center stated that travel arrangements between the two nations remain unchanged and described the rumors as false attempts to damage the bilateral relationship. Türkiye remains a significant partner to Somalia, providing humanitarian aid, infrastructure investment, and security training.