Pak’s Somalia Deal Sparks Concerns of Parallel Military Influence in Horn of Africa (1054 hits)
As the world watches the Pakistan-Saudi defence pact take shape, another MoU involving Islamabad is stirring unease—this time thousands of kilometres away in the Horn of Africa. Signed on August 28, 2025, Pakistan’s defence cooperation agreement with Somalia opens a new chapter in its bid for influence in the Horn of Africa.
The five-year pact, cleared by Somalia’s cabinet, gives Pakistan access to train Somali personnel at its Staff and War Colleges, assist in modernising the Somali navy, and even set up new naval units capable of maritime patrols and anti-piracy operations. Officials familiar with the matter describe it as part of a broader effort—coordinated with Turkey—to expand Islamabad’s military footprint and intelligence presence in the strategically significant waters off the Somali coast.
