The Somali government has said it does not own the F-16 fighter jets recently seen flying over the capital, Mogadishu, clarifying that the aircraft belong to Turkey.
Defense minister Ahmed Moalim said the jets were operated by the Turkish government, a close ally of Somalia, and that comments he had made earlier had been misunderstood.
“The aircraft belong to our brotherly country, Turkey,” Moalim said, adding that Ankara has continued to provide Somalia with wide-ranging military assistance.
The jets carried out a low-altitude military exercise over Mogadishu on Tuesday. Somali air force personnel also took part in the drill.
Turkey recently brought the US-made fighter jets to the capital, as part of expanding security cooperation with Somalia.
Ankara has increased its military presence in Somalia in recent years, deploying personnel from its air, naval and ground forces to support Somali security institutions.