Demonstrations thanking Türkiye continue for a second day on Wednesday, as crowds in Wajid and Barawe take to the streets carrying Turkish and Somali flags.
Thousands of demonstrators filled streets and avenues in Wajid, carrying banners describing Türkiye as Somalia's elder brother that had always stood by the country in difficult times, and declaring that Somalia and Türkiye were bound by an ancient bond of brotherhood.
In Barawe, one of the main towns of the Lower Shabelle region, large crowds also gathered in the streets to show their support for Türkiye.
Demonstrators marched through the town carrying messages of support, and participants carried Turkish and Somali flags side by side as an expression of the relationship between the two countries.
Those taking part said Türkiye had provided important support to Somalia over many years and had done a great deal for the country.
‘Thank you, Türkiye’
Nasra Bashir Ali, Deputy Director of Communications and Public Relations at the Somali Prime Minister's Office, posted footage of the Wajid demonstration on her official Facebook account.
"The people of Wajid today held a large demonstration showing their support for the fraternal relationship and strategic cooperation between Somalia and Türkiye, praising Türkiye's role in Somalia's development and stability," Ali wrote, closing her post with a message of thanks written in Turkish: "Teşekkürler Türkiye" — Thank you, Türkiye.
Footage shared by Ali showed demonstrators carrying Somali and Turkish flags.
Participants in demonstrations that began a day earlier in various Somali towns had likewise pointed to Türkiye's contribution to the country's security, development and humanitarian assistance, sending messages in favour of maintaining the relationship between the two countries.
Ankara’s largest overseas military base
The rallies came after Türkiye’s Directorate of Communications held a panel in Mogadishu on September 10 examining the countries’ deep-rooted ties, strategic partnership and opportunities to expand bilateral cooperation.
Türkiye has expanded its presence in Somalia since Erdogan's 2011 visit to Mogadishu, providing humanitarian aid and investing in infrastructure and security forces.
Its largest overseas military base, used to train the Somali army, sits in Mogadishu alongside its largest embassy in Africa.
Cooperation now spans energy, fisheries and maritime security. A 10-year defence and economic pact was signed in 2024, followed by an April 2025 hydrocarbon deal giving Turkish Petroleum rights across three blocks totalling roughly 16,000 square kilometres. Türkiye's OYAK group signed a fisheries cooperation deal last year, and Ankara began building a space port in Somalia this year.
