Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated on Tuesday that Israel's recognition of the self-proclaimed Republic of Somaliland would not benefit either the territory or the entire Horn of Africa region.
Speaking at a press conference in Addis Ababa, the Turkish head of state recalled Ankara's commitment "to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the states in the region," referring in particular to Somalia, whose Somaliland declared independence in 1991 without obtaining widespread international recognition.
In December, Erdogan had already described the Israeli decision as "illegal and unacceptable," accusing Israel of seeking to destabilize the Horn of Africa. "We believe that the countries of the region must find solutions to their own problems and that the Horn of Africa should not become a battleground for foreign forces," he said.
Turkey, a NATO member, has significantly strengthened its presence in Africa in recent years, particularly in Somalia, where it trains security forces and invests in infrastructure projects. Ankara considers the stability of the region to be strategic for its diplomatic and economic interests.
Israel's recognition of Somaliland comes amid a realignment of regional alliances and heightened rivalries between external powers. While Somaliland has sought formal international recognition for over three decades, the majority of states continue to consider this territory an integral part of Somalia.
