Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud removed Defence Minister Abuldkadir Mohamed Nur following U.S. military pressure due to his ties with Turkey. Nur’s removal aligns with concerns over diminished U.S. support in combating al-Shabab. Despite this, Turkish officials maintain that relations with Somalia will remain strong due to established institutional agreements.
Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has dismissed Defence Minister Abuldkadir Mohamed Nur amid growing pressure from U.S. military officials. Nur has been repositioned to the Minister of Ports, as it appears U.S. support for Somalia’s fight against al-Shabab has diminished. This shift reportedly occurred due to Nur’s efforts to strengthen military, energy, and aerospace ties with Turkey, which caused unease in Washington.
Under Nur’s guidance, Somalia and Turkey concluded a significant naval, trade, and defense agreement in February 2022, granting Turkey the responsibility to protect Somali waters, establish a navy, and assist in energy resource exploration. This arrangement reportedly emerged as a counter to Ethiopia’s naval dealings with Somaliland. Nur’s close relationship with Turkey’s administration, supported by his education and fluency in Turkish, facilitated these partnerships.
U.S. military personnel have consistently urged President Mohamud to relieve Nur of his duties, citing insufficient coordination with U.S. forces. Discussions around these lobbying efforts have reportedly taken place multiple times throughout the year. Additionally, U.S. officials expressed concerns regarding Turkey’s plans to set up a spaceport in Somalia, which could be viewed as a potential site for ballistic missile tests.
The U.S. made it clear that failure to remove Nur could lead to a reevaluation of their security cooperation aimed at combating al-Shabab. U.S. officials also voiced dissatisfaction with Turkey’s recent moves to explore oil and gas ventures in Somalia, marking these as contentious issues. The decision was further exacerbated when Turkey dispatched two Bayraktar Akinci armed drones to Somalia to assist in countering al-Shabab, which U.S. sources indicated was a decisive factor in Nur’s dismissal.
The U.S. Embassy in Mogadishu issued a recent security alert regarding potential al-Shabab attacks, leading to travel disruptions. Moreover, funding challenges arose for the elite Danab Special Forces, prompting the Somali Finance Minister to seek alternative financial resources. Former Danab commander Ahmed Abdullahi Sheikh welcomed Nur’s removal, indicating support for leadership changes.
Despite Nur’s dismissal, Turkish officials remain optimistic that Turkey-Somalia relations will not be adversely affected. They emphasized that collaborations with Somalia are grounded in institutional agreements rather than personal ties. Turkish investments in Somalia’s infrastructure and defense continue to be significant, with experts expressing confidence in the country’s ongoing commitment to assist Somalia’s counterterrorism initiatives.
The Middle East Eye has reached out to the U.S. government for comments concerning this situation, highlighting the stark geopolitical dynamics at play in the Horn of Africa region.
The dismissal of Somalia’s Defence Minister Abuldkadir Mohamed Nur highlights the intricate geopolitical relations between the U.S., Somalia, and Turkey. Pressure from the U.S. military, due to concerns over Nur’s defense ties with Turkey, has prompted a shift in leadership. Despite this political maneuvering, Turkey appears poised to maintain its long-term support for Somalia, focusing on institutional relations rather than individual leaders. This situation underscores the complexities of foreign influence in regional security strategies against threats like al-Shabab.
Original Source: www.middleeasteye.net
