Erdogan Says Turkey Has Begun Space Center Construction in Somalia

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the commencement of construction on a space facility in Somalia during the opening of the International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2026) in Antalya on Monday, according to a report by Somaliland Standard.

“We have initiated construction work on the space facility to be established in Somalia, and we are resolutely pursuing the implementation of this strategic project,” Erdogan said, as quoted by Somaliland Standard.

The president did not specify the exact location of the facility. Somaliland Standard reported that the site is believed to be under construction on the outskirts of the coastal town of Warsheikh in the Middle Shabelle region along the Indian Ocean, but this belief has not been independently confirmed.

Erdogan also said Turkey is laying the foundation for a historic space partnership with Somalia regarding space launch facilities, and stated that a new partnership is being established for plans for a lunar mission. Ankara intends to conduct up to sixty research missions to the moon over the next decade, Somaliland Standard reported.

The report noted that the site’s proximity to the equator makes it suitable for space-related activities, offering a boost from Earth’s rotation for rocket launches.

Somaliland Standard’s report does not provide independent evidence of physical construction work, nor details on project cost, timeline, technical specifications, or the contractor. No Somali official is quoted confirming the partnership or the start of construction.