ADDIS ABABA, February 18, 2026 – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has strongly criticised Israel’s decision to recognise Somaliland, warning that the move would not benefit Somaliland or the wider Horn of Africa.
Speaking in Addis Ababa during an official visit, Erdogan said he had previously condemned the decision in December, describing it as illegal and unacceptable. He accused Israel of attempting to destabilise the Horn of Africa.
“We believe that the region’s problems should be resolved by the countries of the region themselves, and that the Horn of Africa should not be turned into an arena of struggle for foreign powers,” Erdogan said. “In this regard, I reiterate that Israel’s recognition of Somaliland does not serve the interests of Somaliland or the Horn of Africa.”
Erdogan emphasised that Turkey respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries in the region and does not seek new conflicts. He urged regional states to resolve disputes through dialogue and cautioned against turning the Horn of Africa into a battleground for competing foreign powers.
During his visit, Erdogan also told Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed that Ethiopia would gain nothing from recognising Somaliland, underscoring Ankara’s support for Somalia’s unity and territorial integrity.
Israel has not publicly responded to Erdogan’s latest remarks. In December, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel recognised Somaliland as an independent state, a decision that drew criticism from Somalia and several regional actors.
The developments come amid heightened diplomatic tensions in the Horn of Africa. In recent years, Turkey has expanded its presence in Africa, particularly in Somalia, where it maintains close political, economic and security ties and trains Somali security forces.
Separately, Somalia’s federal government has reportedly suspended agreements with the United Arab Emirates, accusing it of backing Israel’s recognition decision. Mogadishu has also signed a defence pact with Qatar, while Turkey deployed fighter jets to its military base in Somalia in what officials described as a show of support for the federal authorities.
