December 30, 2025, 6:00 p.mDecember 30, 2025, 6:00 p.m
Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul.Image: keystone
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has described Israel’s recognition of the Republic of Somaliland as “unacceptable”. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government wants to “push the Horn of Africa into instability,” said Erdogan at a meeting with Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Istanbul. Mohamud described Israel as having an “aggressive attitude”.
A few days ago, Israel became the first country in the world to recognize the Somaliland region in the north of the Muslim East African state of Somalia, which has actually been independent for decades, as a sovereign state. The move was strongly condemned by several regional powers.
Turkey is one of Somalia’s most important security and development partners. It maintains a large embassy and a central military base in Mogadishu and is involved in the operation of the capital’s airport and port through concessions. Ankara invests in infrastructure, healthcare and education and provides extensive humanitarian aid. Turkish armed forces train Somali soldiers and police officers.
A defense and economic agreement concluded in February 2024 also gives Turkey a leading role in building and protecting the Somali navy. In return, Ankara will reportedly receive a share of revenue from Somalia’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). A country’s EEZ includes the area from the territorial sea boundary to the limit of 200 nautical miles in which a state has exclusive rights to use resources. (sda/dpa)