Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared Israel’s recognition of Somaliland “illegal and unacceptable” during a joint press conference with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Istanbul. He stressed maintaining Somalia’s unity and integrity as paramount. Erdogan accused Netanyahu’s government, blamed for 71,000 Palestinian deaths, of now targeting Horn of Africa stability after attacks on Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen, Iran, Qatar, and Syria.
Turkey condemned the move on Friday as overt interference in Somalia’s internal affairs.
Turkey boosts Somalia ties
Turkey plans offshore drilling off Somalia’s coast in 2026 under a bilateral agreement, adding two new drillships to its fleet. Ankara provides military and economic aid, rebuilding Somalia’s army and infrastructure amid civil war since the 1990s. This secures Turkey’s East Africa presence.
Somaliland declared independence unilaterally in 1991 amid Somalia’s chaos post-Siad Barre regime. It operates autonomously with its own currency, army, and police, enjoying relative stability versus Somalia’s instability and al-Shabaab attacks.
Strategic regional implications
No other country recognizes Somaliland besides Israel, leaving it politically and economically isolated despite its strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait position linking the Indian Ocean to the Suez Canal.
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