Erdogan announces the official start of the construction of a center in Somalia…

Ankara (Caasimada Online) – The President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has stated that the construction of a space launch facility that Turkey is building in Somalia has officially begun, a project that Ankara sees as crucial to its plans to have an independent capability to reach outer space.

Erdoğan, speaking at the opening of the 77th International Space Conference held in the city of Antalya, stated that the ability to produce satellites alone is no longer sufficient for a country that wants to play a significant role in outer space.

“In today’s world, merely producing satellites is not enough to maintain a presence in outer space; you must also have the capability to reach outer space,” Erdoğan said.

For this reason, he said, Turkey has placed special emphasis on obtaining a facility from which it can independently launch rockets and satellites.

Erdoğan mentioned that Turkey's geographical situation has compelled Ankara to seek a location outside the country, which ultimately led to cooperation with Somalia.

“We have begun the construction of the space facility that we are establishing in Somalia,” he said. “We are decisively continuing our efforts to implement this strategic project.”

The President of Turkey stated that this facility will not only strengthen Turkey's capabilities in outer space but can also contribute to the development of the aerospace sector in the African continent.

The Warsheekh Project

The Turkish Embassy in Mogadishu has also confirmed that the construction site being built near the Warsheekh district is currently in the construction phase.

A Turkish delegation led by the Turkish ambassador to Somalia, Ferhat Alkan, accompanied by the commander of the Turkish forces in Somalia, Major General Sebahattin Kalkan, recently visited the project site.

The delegation listened to a report on the project's progress from Ahmet Sami İşler, who is the manager of Albayrak Group in Somalia and the chairman of the Turkish-Somali Business Council DEİK.

“After this project, Somalia will become one of the most important centers in the world for aerospace studies,” the embassy stated.

The project site is located near Warsheekh, a coastal town approximately 70 kilometers north of Mogadishu. Previously taken satellite images have shown construction activities taking place in that area.

One of the main reasons Turkey chose this project in Somalia is its location in relation to the equator.

Missiles launched from areas near the equator can benefit from the speed of the Earth's rotation, which can reduce the fuel needed or enable heavier payloads to be lifted into space.

Additionally, Somalia's long coastline along the Indian Ocean can provide missiles with open sea routes, reducing the risk associated with missile parts falling back to the ground.

International Plan

Turkey also plans for the center in Somalia not to be limited to its space program, but to be opened in the future to international countries and companies.

Arif Karabeyoğlu, a member of the Turkish Space Agency board, stated that Ankara wants to make the center a place that can be used by other companies and agencies working in space.

“Turkey wants to use this site for its space transportation, but at the same time, it wants to open it for international use,” he said.

He mentioned that in the future the center could go beyond just being a launch site for missiles and could transform into a large center providing various space services.

Karabeyoğlu described Somalia as a location with several advantages, including proximity to the equator, favorable weather conditions, and the safety of missile routes.

Turkey's Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır stated in December that feasibility studies and project design have been completed, and the first phase of construction has begun.

Kacır noted that the studies conducted identified Somalia as the most suitable location for this project due to its proximity to the equator, its coastline, climate, and the low level of air and maritime traffic in parts of the region.

He also stated that the center could have the capacity to serve the global aerospace market, including satellite launches, technical testing, and coordination of aerospace equipment.

Turkish officials are hopeful that the project will generate economic benefits for Turkey in the future, while also creating developmental and economic opportunities for Somalia.

The Warsheekh project could also help Turkey fill one of the remaining gaps in its aerospace program — the ability to independently launch satellites into space.

The communication satellite Türksat 6A, which was made in Turkey, is set to be launched into space in 2024 from the state of Florida in the United States, having been mounted on SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket.