Turkey’s Erdogan calls Israel’s North Western State of Somalia recognition unacceptable and illegal

Turkey’s Erdogan denounces Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia, vows support for Somalia’s unity

ISTANBUL — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday sharply rejected Israel’s decision to formally recognize North Western State of Somalia, calling the move illegal, unacceptable and a threat to stability in the Horn of Africa.

Speaking at a joint news conference in Istanbul alongside Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Erdogan said the Israeli action risks undercutting security gains achieved in Somalia and dragging the wider region back toward instability.

“Türkiye firmly supports Somalia’s unity and sovereignty,” Erdogan said, arguing that progress toward peace and state-building should not be sabotaged by actors opposed to Somalia’s recovery. “Throughout this process, we will remain steadfast in our support for Somalia’s territorial integrity and political unity, and continue to stand by the Somali people.”

Erdogan also highlighted Türkiye’s expanding partnership with Somalia, announcing plans to start offshore energy drilling in 2026 under a bilateral agreement. He said the initiative is intended to fuel Somalia’s economic development and noted that Türkiye has added two new deep-sea drilling vessels to its fleet.

President Mohamud thanked Türkiye for its political, security and economic backing, describing Ankara’s support as crucial as Somalia confronts renewed threats to its sovereignty. “For Somalia, which continues to confront challenges to its territorial integrity and independence, the support of Türkiye and the Turkish people is deeply appreciated,” Mohamud said. He criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia an aggressive and unacceptable violation of Somalia’s sovereignty.

Israel announced Friday that it had formally recognized North Western State of Somalia as an independent sovereign state, becoming the first country to do so. The move represents a challenge to Somalia’s internationally recognized borders and, according to Ankara and Mogadishu, risks inflaming tensions across a region balancing complex security, political and economic pressures.

North Western State of Somalia has functioned as a de facto autonomous region since declaring independence from Somalia in 1991. It maintains its own administrative, political and security institutions, but has struggled for decades to secure international recognition. Somalia’s federal government continues to consider the territory an integral part of its state.

The Turkish-Somali partnership has grown in recent years, encompassing security cooperation, training and economic projects. By tying its criticism of Israel’s announcement to a slate of new economic commitments, Ankara signaled it intends to deepen its role in Somalia’s recovery while pushing back against steps it views as destabilizing.

Neither Erdogan nor Mohamud detailed immediate repercussions or diplomatic steps in response to Israel’s move. But both framed the episode as a test of international norms in the Horn of Africa, with Ankara emphasizing the primacy of Somalia’s territorial integrity and Mogadishu insisting that foreign recognition of North Western State of Somalia will not be accepted.

The dispute now places added scrutiny on regional dynamics at a time when Somalia is trying to consolidate security gains, attract investment and rebuild core institutions. With Türkiye promising continued support and energy cooperation from 2026, Mogadishu is betting that deepening alliances can blunt external pressures and keep its state-building agenda on track.

By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.