Israel's recognition of Somaliland benefit no one: ErdoğanANKARAPresident Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Tuesday touched on Israel's decision to recognize Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state and become the only country to do so, stressing that the decision benefits neither Somalia nor the region. "I would like to reiterate that Israel’s recognition of Somaliland would benefit neither Somaliland nor the Horn of Africa," Erdoğan said in a joint presser with Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in Addis Ababa. Türkiye and Ethiopia have recently increased their trade volume to $250 million with expectations to increase it in the coming period. President Erdoğan had met with Somali leader Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Istanbul on Dec. 30 to denounce Israel’s move. In Addis Ababa, Erdoğan and Ahmed are expected to discuss this development broadly as well as Türkiye’s mediation efforts between Ethiopia and Somalia.

Source: Ethiopian News February 17, 2026 09:47 UTC