Türkiye’s Somalia spaceport project takes shape in Warsheikh

Türkiye’s planned spaceport in Somalia is taking shape in the coastal town of Warsheikh, where construction and related development work are underway on the ambitious project.

A Turkish delegation led by Türkiye’s Ambassador to Somalia Ferhat Alkan and Major General Sebahattin Kalkan, commander of the Turkish Task Force in Somalia, recently visited the site.

The delegation received a briefing on the Spaceport Project from Ahmet Sami İşler, Albayrak Group’s Somalia general manager and chairman of the Türkiye-Somalia Business Council of the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Türkiye (DEİK).

The visit comes after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that construction had begun, describing the spaceport as a “historic” cooperation with Somalia that would strengthen Türkiye’s access to space and contribute to the development of Africa’s space ecosystem.

Major step in sector

For Türkiye, the project is intended to provide infrastructure to strengthen its capabilities in accessing space. For Somalia, it could mark a major step into the space sector and bring new opportunities in technology, infrastructure and skills development.

During the Warsheikh visit, the Turkish delegation also inspected school and hospital projects carried out with Turkish support.

Officials met with district authorities, residents and students and spent time engaging with local communities.

Alkan and the delegation also visited the town’s coastline, where they spoke with local fishermen and joined young people for a game of football, according to the Turkish Embassy.

Connecting with locals

The engagements offered Turkish officials an opportunity to interact directly with residents of the coastal town where the spaceport is planned.

Alkan also highlighted the wider development potential of the project.

“With this project, Somalia will become one of the world’s leading centres in the field of space activities,” Alkan said.

The spaceport is part of a broader expansion of Türkiye-Somalia cooperation, which spans defence, infrastructure, development and advanced technology.

The Warsheikh project could therefore become both a symbol and a practical extension of the growing strategic partnership between Ankara and Mogadishu — while positioning Somalia as an emerging player in Africa’s space ambitions.