Türkiye has appointed career diplomat Selin Ozaydin as its new ambassador to Kenya, Ankara announced, as part of a broader diplomatic reshuffle that will see 10 new envoys posted across African capitals.
Ozaydin will replace Subutay Yüksel, who has served as Türkiye’s ambassador in Nairobi.
The appointments were announced by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and form part of Ankara’s ongoing effort to expand and deepen its diplomatic presence on the continent.
In addition to Nairobi, Türkiye named new ambassadors to Somalia, Burundi, Mozambique, The Gambia, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Botswana and Namibia.
The wave of postings underscores Turkey’s strategic push to strengthen political, commercial and security ties with African states.
One of the most closely watched postings was Ferhat Alkan’s appointment as ambassador to Somalia, reflecting Mogadishu’s status as one of Ankara’s key strategic partners in Africa.
Over the past decade, Türkiye has developed extensive political, military and economic ties with Somalia, positioning itself as one of the country’s most influential external partners.
Türkiye operates Camp TURKSOM in Mogadishu, its largest overseas military base, where Somali security forces are trained. Through a long-term defence cooperation framework, Ankara has supported the development of the Somali Navy, trained elite Gorgor commandos, and supplied military equipment for operations against Al-Shabaab.
Beyond security cooperation, Türkiye has expanded its influence through infrastructure projects, trade, humanitarian assistance, and growing involvement in Somalia’s maritime and energy sectors. The scale of engagement in Mogadishu illustrates how Ankara has used both diplomatic and operational presence to anchor its Africa policy.
The latest ambassadorial changes signal Ankara’s sustained effort to strengthen its diplomatic footprint across Africa, where it has significantly expanded its network of embassies, commercial engagement, and security partnerships over the past two decades.
