Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan declared Tuesday that Israel’s acknowledgment of the breakaway Republic of Somaliland serves no positive purpose for either Somaliland or the broader region.
Back in December, Erdogan had condemned Israel’s formal recognition of Somaliland—a northern territory that proclaimed independence in 1991—calling the move both illegal and unacceptable. At that time, he also claimed Israel was attempting to create instability in the Horn of Africa.
Speaking at a news conference while visiting Addis Ababa, Erdogan stated: “I would like to especially underline our stance of valuing the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states in the area where Ethiopia is located.” He emphasized that Turkey opposes any new conflicts emerging in the region.
“We believe regional countries need to find solutions to the problems of the region and for the Horn of Africa not to become a competition field for foreign forces. In that regard, I would like to emphasise that Israel’s recognition of Somaliland does not benefit Somaliland or the Horn of Africa,” Erdogan continued.
The NATO member nation has expanded its presence across Africa in recent years, providing training for Somalia’s security personnel and offering development aid in exchange for strategic positioning along crucial international shipping lanes. Turkey has also built strong relationships with other nations in the region, including Ethiopia.
Meanwhile, Somalia has severed all diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates, claiming the UAE influenced Israel’s decision to recognize Somaliland. Following this break, Somalia signed a defense pact with Qatar, and Turkey deployed fighter aircraft to its Somali base as a demonstration of military support.
Turkey has emerged as one of Israel’s harshest critics regarding its military operations in Gaza, which Turkish officials have labeled as genocide. The country has halted all commercial dealings with Israel and has advocated for international sanctions against Israeli leadership.
