Somaliland condemns Erdoğan remarks as “unacceptable interference”

Somaliland has criticized recent remarks by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, describing them as “unacceptable interference.” Somaliland said Erdoğan’s comments were aimed at discouraging relations between Somaliland and its regional partners.

“The Republic of Somaliland condemns the recent remarks by the President of the Republic of Türkiye as unacceptable interference aimed at discouraging relations between Somaliland and regional partners,” the statement said.

Erdoğan, speaking at press conference in Addis Ababa, said regional problems should be resolved by countries within the Horn of Africa and warned against the region becoming “an arena of struggle for foreign powers.” He added that Israel’s recognition of Somaliland would benefit “neither Somaliland nor the Horn of Africa.”

Somaliland responded that foreign policy decisions in the Horn of Africa “must be determined by the region’s own governments and peoples,” and cautioned against extending external rivalries into the region in ways that could undermine stability and cooperation.

The government called on Türkiye to refrain from taking positions that could inflame regional tensions and urged Ankara to uphold “the principles of mutual respect, non-interference, and sovereign decision-making.”

Turkey has maintained a firm position against Somaliland’s recognition of Israel, reflecting both its broader foreign policy priorities and its close ties with Somalia’s federal government. Its rejection of Somaliland’s outreach to Israel is also in line with Turkey’s longstanding close ties with Mogadishu.

Despite its opposition to Somaliland’s recognition, Turkey has at times sought to present itself as a mediator between Somaliland and the Federal Government of Somalia. However, over the past decade, Ankara has made substantial investments in Somalia, particularly in key security and economic sectors. These include training and equipping Somali security forces, managing critical infrastructure such as ports and airports, and supporting development and reconstruction projects.

Such efforts have significantly expanded Turkey’s influence in Mogadishu and solidified its position as one of the most prominent external actors in Somalia’s political landscape. While mediation initiatives have been framed as neutral diplomatic engagement aimed at fostering dialogue, they also align with Turkey’s broader strategic objective of consolidating influence and maintaining leverage in both Somalia and Somaliland

Ultimately, Turkey’s close strategic alliance with Somalia significantly shapes its position on Somaliland’s political ambitions. While Ankara publicly emphasizes dialogue and respect for Somalia’s territorial integrity, its policies have consistently reflected a firm rejection of recognizing Somaliland as an independent state. Recent exchanges have brought these contentious issues more openly into the public sphere.

This stance also comes at a time when Ankara is expanding its geopolitical footprint in the Horn of Africa. Turkey is increasingly positioning itself alongside, and at times in competition with, actors such as Israel and the Gulf monarchies for influence in the region. Through this lens, maintaining strong ties with the federal government in Mogadishu remains central to Turkey’s broader regional ambitions.