Last week, Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacir of Turkey disclosed that the country is done with the feasibility and design stages of a new spaceport in Somalia.
The minister went on to reveal that the first phase of building is currently underway.
When the facility is completed, Turkey will be one of the few countries with its own orbital launch sites.
Following their meeting at the Dolmabahçe Presidential Office on December 30, 2025, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan disclosed Turkey’s intentions for the spaceport at a joint news conference with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Istanbul.
The initiative is part of Turkey’s National Space Program, namely the “Access to Space and Space Port” target.
It is coordinated by the Ministry of Industry and Technology, with substantial support from the Turkish Space Agency (TUA) and other relevant organizations, SpaceinAfrica reports.
According to the Anadolu Agency (AA), the spaceport is an important part of Turkey’s “Spaceport and Independent Access to Space” agenda, which aims to strengthen the country’s domestic and commercial space capabilities.
With feasibility and design work completed, building has commenced in Somalia, a location chosen for its geographic and operational advantages.
Sites near the Equator are good for rocket launches because Earth’s rotating speed adds thrust, allowing rockets to reach orbit more effectively and with less fuel.
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The Somalia spaceport provides Turkey with both geographical and technological benefits.
Launches from within Turkey’s borders may encounter geographic limits, but Somalia’s equatorial position gives a more efficient alternative.
Also, the existence of a Turkish military post in the nation helps to provide security.
Once operational, the facility will fulfill several functions, including launching Turkey’s own rockets, serving the global commercial space market, and earning revenue from satellite launch services, testing, and integration operations.
Over time, it is intended to fulfill global satellite launch demand while also contributing to Somalia’s economic and technical growth.
