Beyond military modernisation, acquisition could reshape security landscape of Horn of Africa
MOGADISHU
Somalia is negotiating with Pakistan to purchase up to 24 JF-17 Thunder Block III fighter jets, signalling the nation’s most ambitious attempt since 1991 to reestablish a sovereign air combat capability and secure control over its skies and expansive coastline.
The discussions accelerated following a February 2026 visit to Islamabad by Somali Air Force Commander Mohamud Sheikh Ali, reflecting the urgent need to rebuild a fixed-wing combat force that collapsed with the disintegration of Somalia’s central government decades ago.
“Our airspace must be protected by Somali hands,” a Somali defence ministry official said, portraying the acquisition not merely as a weapons procurement effort but as a statement of political sovereignty and institutional resurgence.
In a region where command of the skies directly translates into control over territory, trade routes and counterterrorism operations, airpower carries profound strategic weight.
Pakistan Defence Production Minister Raza Hayat Harraj highlighted the financial logic behind the potential deal. “While some Western options may be more technologically advanced, they cost more than three times as much as an approximately $30 million to $40 million JF-17,” he said, framing the aircraft as a cost-effective solution for a nation balancing strategic ambition with limited defence resources.
