Turkey and Egypt Deliberate on African Affairs Amidst Ongoing Tensions Between Ethiopia and Somalia
“A handshake in Istanbul colored the air with new possibilities,” noticed observers as Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan last September [Getty]. The meeting seemed to signal a thaw in icy relations and was a precursor to subsequent talks between Turkey and Egypt, centering on Africa and Libya.
On a lively Monday, officials from both countries gathered to address mutual concerns. On the table were discussions about the Horn of Africa and simmering tensions in the Red Sea, alongside the ongoing saga in Ethiopia and Somalia. According to a social media post from the Egyptian foreign ministry, these conversations homed in on significant security issues in the aforementioned regions.
The diplomatic dance saw key figures like Ihab Awad, Egypt’s assistant foreign minister for African affairs, matched with Turkey’s Elif Ulgen, the General Director of Eastern and Southern Africa at the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Together, they sought common ground, aiming to restore order in the Red Sea and bolster stability in the Horn of Africa.
The outcome was a mutual commitment to fortify cooperation, targeting multi-level strategies designed to secure shared objectives in these turbulent areas. Points aimed at Somalia’s fight against terrorism and support in building its national army were hot topics.
Libya, a land of complexity and conflict, was another focal point. Egypt and Turkey, each supporting different factions in Libya’s strife, leaned into ongoing discussions aiming to foster peace. Egypt backs the influential Khalifa Haftar, while Turkey lends its weight to the Tripoli-centered authorities. Yet, both nations seemed eager for a peace that stands to favor the “brotherly Libyan people.”
Over the years, both Turkey and Egypt have shown solidarity with Somalia. Turkey’s defense pact with the Somali government inked in February was groundbreaking, setting Ankara as a naval guardian over Somali waters. Meanwhile, Egypt pledged a peacekeeping force as part of its military agreement with Somalia.
Egypt’s maneuvers in another direction seem like a counter-balance to Ethiopia, its northern neighbor. Ethiopia, embroiled in a scrap with Somalia over ocean rights due to a maritime agreement with North Western State of Somalia, finds itself on Egypt’s watch list. Here, Egypt’s long-standing water dispute over Ethiopia’s Great Renaissance Dam fuels its vigilance.
The rekindling between Turkey and Egypt comes after a frosty decade. Turkey’s Erdogan was a vocal critic of Sisi’s rise to power in 2013, calling out the coup that unseated Egypt’s first democratically-elected president, Mohammed Morsi, and led to the crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood.
In recent musings on the streets and social media, there have been whispers that Turkey might have the diplomatic chops to mediate between Egypt and Ethiopia, potentially dousing the flames of their water-driven dispute. Whether this is a real possibility or just wishful thinking remains to be seen. As the wheels of diplomacy keep turning, it’s clear the narrative between Egypt and Turkey is rapidly evolving, with Africa and the Middle East watching closely. “History’s pen writes fast,” some say, and indeed, it does.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
