‘We Don’t Need Erdogan’: Anti-Türkiye Anger Grips Somalia

KISMAYO, Somalia — Hundreds of people took to the streets of Kismayo, the interim capital of Somalia's Jubaland state, to protest against Türkiye following an incident in Doolow district in the southern Gedo region.

Demonstrators accused Türkiye of involvement in an alleged airstrike targeting senior Somali military commander Gen. Mahad Abdirahman Aden, widely known as Gen. Shub.

Some protesters burned the Turkish flag, while others carried images depicting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with blood drawn on his hands. Several placards read: "We do not need Erdogan."

"We used to love Erdogan and Türkiye, but now we hate them," some protesters chanted.

The demonstrations followed allegations by Jubaland officials and federal government critics that Turkish military aircraft were involved in an operation targeting Gen. Shub in Doolow.

Somalia's federal government has denied that an airstrike occurred at the reported location, while Türkiye has not officially confirmed any involvement in the incident.

The protests also spread to Afmadow in Lower Juba, where more than 1,000 people reportedly gathered to denounce what they described as foreign interference and Türkiye's involvement in Somalia's internal affairs.

Demonstrators called for the protection of Somalia's sovereignty, unity and right to determine its own affairs, saying domestic political and security issues should be resolved by Somalis.

Jubaland officials also condemned the alleged operation and rejected the use of foreign military aircraft against people and territory under the administration's control.

"We will not accept our people and our territory being attacked by aircraft belonging to foreign countries," Jubaland's minister for women said during the protests.

Jubaland's information minister accused the federal government of pursuing what he described as an invasion of the state and vowed resistance.

"Any kind of invasion against Jubaland has failed before and has failed again," he said, adding that the administration would defeat President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and his allies.

The mayor of Kismayo said residents and Jubaland authorities were prepared to defend the administration's existence and what he described as the dignity of its people.

Jubaland's security minister separately accused the federal government of undermining Somalia's state institutions and power-sharing arrangements. He said Jubaland was prepared to defend itself against the central government and what he called a "new coloniser."

The protests reflect growing anger in parts of Jubaland toward Türkiye, traditionally one of Somalia's closest international partners, and come amid worsening political tensions between Mogadishu and the Jubaland administration.

The dispute has centred particularly on Gedo, where the federal government and Jubaland have long competed for political and security control.

Türkiye has maintained close military and economic ties with Somalia, including military training, defence cooperation and support for maritime security and offshore energy operations.

The demonstrations in Kismayo and Afmadow, however, signal growing public opposition in parts of Jubaland to Ankara's perceived role in Somalia's security affairs, particularly following the disputed Doolow incident.

GAROWE ONLINE