Somalia is negotiating with Pakistan to buy up to 24 JF-17 fighter jets, which will mark its biggest investment in its defense sector in decades.
Somalia’s decision to purchase 24 JF-17 fighter jets comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions following Israel’s recognition of Somaliland and debate over airspace control in the Horn of Africa. Somalia has the world’s weakest militaries but is aiming to rebuild its air force to battle Al-Shabaab insurgents. On December 26, 2025, Israel formally recognized Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia, and becoming the first United Nations member state to do so.
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The move has heightened diplomatic tensions in the Horn of Africa and added strain to an already fragile regional balance. Global Firepower’s 2026 Military Strength Index has ranked Somalia’s military as 137th out of 145 countries globally. It has the fifth weakest armed forces in Africa as well. The country lacks a functioning fixed-wing combat capability since 1991, which has significantly reduced its ability to secure its airspace against emerging threats as regional alliances are evolving.
Somalia is now planning to rebuild its air power as it is engaged in military conflicts with Al-Shabaab, the al-Qaeda-linked insurgent groups that are controlling the large rural areas in southern and central regions. The group frequently launches attacks in Mogadishu and surrounding towns, according to the Pakistan has presented the F-17 as its cost-effective alternative to Western aircraft, Pakistani defence production minister Raza Hayat Harad said.
The potential deal is valued roughly at $900 million and would represent Somalia’s largest defence investment since the Cold War. Moreover, Israel’s recognition of Somaliland has intensified sensitivities around sovereignty and territorial integrity, increasing the strategic importance of airspace control. Moreover, Somalia is also moving closer to Saudi Arabia, a regional heavyweight and longstanding military partner of Pakistan, while its relationship with the United Arab Emirates has cooled compared with previous years, signaling a shift in diplomatic and security priorities.
