Khaberni - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan confirmed that Israel's recognition of the "Somaliland" region does not benefit the separatist region or the Horn of Africa.
This occurred during a press conference held by the Turkish president with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, today, Tuesday, in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.
President Erdoğan emphasized the need not to transform the Horn of Africa region into a battleground for foreign powers, calling on the countries of the region to formulate solutions to their problems.
On the economic front, Erdoğan pointed out that the number of Turkish companies investing in Ethiopia has exceeded 200, with investments amounting to about $2.5 billion.
Erdoğan expressed his pride in the contribution of Turkish companies to creating jobs for about 20,000 Ethiopians.
Turkish interest in the Horn of Africa
Recent days have seen video footage of Turkish tanks arriving at the Somali army, and in February 2024, Turkey and Somalia signed a comprehensive ten-year defense and economic framework agreement, aimed at protecting Somali territorial waters, building naval forces, and exploring oil and gas off Somali coasts.
The agreement, which enhances Ankara's influence in the Horn of Africa, includes supporting maritime security, combating piracy and smuggling, and sending Turkish exploration ships, alongside infrastructure development projects and direct investment.
The arrival of Turkish tanks comes in the context of regional developments, especially Israel's recognition of the separatist "Somaliland" region as a sovereign state on December 26 last year.
Abiy Ahmed welcomes Erdoğan
Erdoğan presented Abiy Ahmed with a locally made "TOGG" electric car, and the Ethiopian Prime Minister drove the car around the national palace square with the Turkish President.
Abiy Ahmed stated that his country is determined to continue relations "based on the foundation of lasting friendship and strong cooperation" with Turkey, reaffirming their commitment to developing partnerships that serve mutual interests, expressing his confidence that Ethiopian-Turkish relations will grow stronger in the future.
Expansion of Turkish-Ethiopian relations
Turkish-Ethiopian relations have expanded over the past two decades, in line with Turkey's policy of opening up to Africa. Today, Addis Ababa is the largest recipient of Turkish investments on the continent, hosting investments exceeding two and a half billion dollars, representing about half of Turkey's total direct investments in Africa.
About 200 Turkish companies are active in the Ethiopian market, operating in sectors such as infrastructure, transportation, textiles, agriculture, and furniture, and have provided tens of thousands of job opportunities.
Ethiopian official data shows that Ankara ranks second among major foreign investors in the country and is classified among its top trade partners in Africa.
