Turkey Expands Influence in Africa

 AEI's Critical Threats Africa File posted on 16 April 2026 an analysis titled "Turkey Expands Influence in Africa" by Liam Karr and Michael DeAngelo.  

Turkey recently advanced economic and security ties with Somalia and Niger.  Both countries now serve as Ankara's anchors for further advancing its strategic interests in Africa.  In the case of Somalia, Turkey has assumed responsibility for managing and protecting its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) while it helps rebuild the defunct Somali navy in exchange for 30 percent of EEZ revenues.

What's Behind the Resurgence of Somali Piracy

World Politics Review published on 28 April 2017 an interview with John Steed, regional manager for the Horn of Africa at Oceans Beyond Piracy titled "What's Behind the Resurgence in Piracy off Somalia's Coast."

Steed concludes that the recent rise in pirate attacks off Somalia is due to several factors. Less attention has been given to preventive measures taken by ships in the waters off Somalia. There has been a reduction in the international naval presence in the region. The Somali federal government and Puntland regional government have not significantly improved their capacity to combat piracy. Little has been done to improve maritime security. The coastal areas of Somalia have experienced little development at a time when illegal fishing has returned.

Piracy and Illegal Fishing in Somalia

The Cipher Brief published on 6 April 2017 a commentary titled "Global Security and Illegal Fishing in Somalia" by Sally Yozell, the Washington-based Stimson Center.

The article highlights the increase in illegal fishing by non-Somali flagged vessels in Somalia's exclusive economic zone and argues that this is a threat to security in the Horn of Africa by resulting in a return to piracy.

Somalia after Piracy

The South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) published on 27 September 2015 a commentary titled "Beyond Naval Interventions in Somali Piracy" by Joana Ama Osei-Tutu, SAIIA visiting fellow.

Now that Somali piracy has nearly ended, the author comments on the need to ensure that coastal Somalis have the ability to fish in Somali territorial waters and that the international community steps in to help prevent illegal foreign fishing. 

Somalia Institutes Maritime Proceeding Against Kenya

Somalia on 28 August 2014 instituted proceedings against Kenya before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) with regard to a dispute concerning maritime delimitation in the Indian Ocean.  The ICJ press release states that Somalia contends the two countries disagree about the location of the maritime boundary in the area where their maritime entitlements overlap.  Somalia asked the ICJ to determine, on the basis of international law, the complete course of the maritime boundary dividing all the maritime areas pertaining to Somalia and Kenya in the Indian Ocean.  Somalia's 17-page application with sketch maps is available on the ICJ website.

Driving this application is Kenya's designation of oil blocks in Indian Ocean waters claimed by Somalia.  It is a credit to Somalia that, in spite of its many problems, it has the capacity to submit a professionally done claim to the ICJ.  The situation is complicated by the fact that Kenyan troops remain in the Lower Juba as part of AMISOM.