ALBAWABA- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has cautioned against foreign interference in the Horn of Africa, warning that external involvement risks turning the region into a battleground for competing powers.
Speaking at a joint press conference in Addis Ababa alongside Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Erdogan criticized Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, saying the move would serve neither Somaliland’s interests nor those of the broader region.
“We believe countries in the region should work on solutions to their problems,” Erdogan said, stressing the need for dialogue and regional ownership of security challenges. His remarks come amid intensifying geopolitical competition across the Horn, as Ankara seeks to reinforce its diplomatic and security role in East Africa.
On his part, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed urged Türkiye to support Ethiopia’s efforts to secure peaceful access to the sea.
The visit marks Erdogan’s first trip to Ethiopia in more than a decade and follows his abrupt postponement of a planned visit to the United Arab Emirates on February 15, officially attributed to a health issue affecting UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The delay has drawn attention from analysts who see growing tensions surrounding shifting alliances in the region.
Recent reports have heightened scrutiny of the UAE’s role in the Horn of Africa. A Reuters investigation alleged that Abu Dhabi financed a covert training facility in Ethiopia for Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces during Sudan’s ongoing civil war, accusations the UAE has denied.
The conflict in Sudan has caused massive displacement and tens of thousands of deaths since 2023, intensifying regional instability.
The UAE has also supported Ethiopia’s efforts to secure maritime access through a controversial memorandum of understanding with Somaliland, a move opposed by Somalia and criticized by several regional actors.
Turkey, along with Saudi Arabia and Egypt, has backed Somalia’s territorial integrity and sought to mediate tensions, including through diplomatic initiatives aimed at preventing escalation along the Red Sea corridor.
Erdogan’s visit underscores Ankara’s effort to position itself as a stabilizing actor in the Horn of Africa at a time when overlapping alliances involving the UAE, Ethiopia, and Israel are reshaping regional dynamics.
Without coordinated diplomacy, rivalries in the Horn risk deepening and further destabilizing one of the world’s most strategically sensitive regions.
