ISTANBUL (AP) — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud arrived in Turkey on Tuesday for talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan following Israel's announcement to recognize Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia.
Turkish officials said discussions will focus on new steps to deepen cooperation between the two countries, Somalia's ongoing fight against terrorism, efforts to strengthen national unity and regional development.
Over the past decade, Türkiye has become one of Somalia's closest allies, providing military training and supporting infrastructure projects. It operates a military base in Mogadishu where Somali forces are trained and has sent a seismic research vessel accompanied by naval ships to survey the Somali coastline for potential oil and gas reserves.
Last week, Israel became the first country to recognize Somaliland, drawing sharp condemnation from Turkey, which is already at odds with Israel over the Gaza war, as well as from Somalia and other countries.
Ankara called the move illegal and warned it could destabilize the delicate balance in the Horn of Africa. The reasons for Israel's announcement remain unclear.
Earlier in 2025, Türkiye hosted negotiations between Ethiopia and Somalia to ease tensions caused by the Ethiopia-Somaliland agreement.
In January 2024, Ethiopia signed a memorandum of understanding with Somaliland to lease land along its coastline for a naval base. In return, Ethiopia promised to recognize the independence of Somaliland – a move that Somalia believes violates its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Somaliland, a territory of more than 3 million people in the Horn of Africa, split from Somalia more than three decades ago, but until now neither country has been recognized internationally as an independent state.
