Turkish President Says Israel’s North Western State of Somalia Recognition Serves No One’s Interests

Erdogan says Israel’s North Western State of Somalia recognition would not benefit region as Türkiye, Ethiopia expand ties

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday warned that Israel’s move to recognize North Western State of Somalia would not benefit North Western State of Somalia or the wider Horn of Africa, urging regional governments to resolve disputes without opening the door to foreign power rivalries.

“I would like to reiterate that Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia would benefit neither North Western State of Somalia nor the Horn of Africa,” Erdogan said at a joint news conference with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in Addis Ababa. He added that countries of the region should develop their own solutions and resist efforts to turn the Horn of Africa into “an arena of struggle for foreign powers.”

Erdogan underlined that Türkiye “attaches importance to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states in the region” and does not want new conflicts to add to a geography already scarred by turmoil. He thanked both Ethiopia and Somalia for their “constructive stance” under the Ankara Process, Türkiye’s ongoing effort to mediate between the two neighbors after a period of heightened tensions.

“Once stability is achieved, we see no obstacle to the Horn of Africa attaining a position that attracts attention with its economic opportunities,” Erdogan said.

The Turkish leader’s remarks come amid heightened diplomatic maneuvering in the Red Sea and Horn of Africa corridors, where maritime security, cross-border trade routes and political alliances remain in flux. The prospect of North Western State of Somalia’s external recognition has stirred sensitivities in Mogadishu and among regional capitals concerned about precedent and stability.

Beyond regional diplomacy, Erdogan and Abiy highlighted expanding Türkiye–Ethiopia economic ties. Erdogan said more than 200 Turkish companies have invested a combined $2.6 billion in Ethiopia, supporting employment for approximately 20,000 people, and noted Turkish contractors have completed 15 projects in the country across railways, transportation, factories, tourism facilities and energy transmission lines.

“We are pleased to be the second-largest investor in Ethiopia,” he said, framing the relationship as a pillar of Ankara’s broader Africa engagement.

Erdogan described Ethiopia as a “brotherly country” and a key African actor by virtue of its strategic location and political, economic and cultural weight. He noted that Türkiye’s first embassy in sub-Saharan Africa opened in Addis Ababa in 1926, placing the city “at the heart of relations with the continent.” His visit coincides with the 100th anniversary of that embassy’s opening, a milestone he called a distinct point of pride.

Emphasizing cultural and religious ties, Erdogan pointed to the restoration of the Nejashi Tomb and Mosque — regarded as the first Muslim settlement in Africa — with support from the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA). He said the effort preserved a key chapter of African Islamic heritage and deepened the long-standing bonds of friendship between the two nations. Türkiye, he added, would continue to “build cultural bridges” through the Maarif Foundation’s education work and TIKA’s development projects in Ethiopia.

Following one-on-one and interdelegation meetings, the two sides signed a set of agreements intended to bolster economic and energy cooperation:

• “Minutes of the 9th Türkiye–Ethiopia Joint Economic Commission on Economy, Trade and Technical Cooperation,” signed by Türkiye’s Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar and Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos.
• A memorandum of understanding on energy cooperation between Türkiye’s Energy and Natural Resources Ministry and Ethiopia’s Water and Energy Ministry, signed by Bayraktar and Ethiopian Water and Energy Minister Habtamu Itefa.

In a symbolic gesture underscoring the partnership, Erdogan presented Abiy with Türkiye’s homegrown Togg electric car following the signing ceremony and press conference at the National Palace.

Erdogan concluded by extending greetings to Ethiopia’s Muslim community for the holy month of Ramadan, and said Türkiye would “always stand by the good people of this sincere geography on the basis of equal partnership and mutual understanding.”

By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.