Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has criticised Israel’s decision to recognise the breakaway Republic of Somaliland, saying the move will not benefit either Somaliland or the wider Horn of Africa region.
Speaking in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, Erdogan said he had condemned the recognition in December as illegal and unacceptable. He accused Israel of attempting to destabilise the region.
“We believe that the region’s problems should be resolved by the countries of the region themselves, and that the Horn of Africa should not be turned into an arena of struggle for foreign powers,” Erdogan said. “Israel’s recognition of Somaliland benefits neither Somaliland nor the Horn of Africa.”
Erdogan emphasised that Turkey values the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states in the region and urged regional countries to resolve their own disputes to avoid new conflicts.
Turkey has been expanding its influence in Africa, including training Somalia’s security forces and strengthening ties with countries such as Ethiopia.
The Somaliland recognition has heightened regional tensions. Somalia responded by cutting ties with the United Arab Emirates, accusing it of backing Israel’s decision. Mogadishu subsequently signed a defence pact with Qatar, while Turkey has deployed fighter jets to its base in Somalia to support the Somali government.
