Somalia Gives Turkey Space Pass

Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said Turkey is building a rocket launch facility in his Horn of Africa nation, bolstering Ankara’s efforts to test long-range missiles. The project will create jobs and increase revenue for Somalia, Mohamud said at an event in Mogadishu.

Somalia’s location, at the easternmost tip of mainland Africa, is ideal for launching rockets into the Indian Ocean, reducing the risk of debris falling on residential areas or neighboring countries, Bloomberg reported in September.

A launch facility in Somalia would boost Turkey’s ambitions to join a space race traditionally dominated by major powers. Turkey has had plans to launch a rocket for several years, but Mohamud has not disclosed the exact location of the project.