Addis ababa: Israel's recognition of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state, becoming the only country to do so, benefits neither Somalia nor the region, Trkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated on Tuesday. "I would like to reiterate that Israel's recognition of Somaliland would benefit neither Somaliland nor the Horn of Africa," Erdogan said during a joint press conference with Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in Addis Ababa.
According to Anadolu Agency, Erdogan emphasized the need for regional solutions to regional problems, urging that the Horn of Africa should not become "an arena of struggle for foreign powers." He highlighted Trkiye's commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states in the region and expressed concerns about new conflicts being added to an already tumultuous area. Erdogan also acknowledged Trkiye's mediation efforts between Ethiopia and Somalia under the Ankara Process, expressing gratitude for the constructive stance of both sides.
As for bilateral relations, Erdogan mentioned that it is a "source of pride" that over 200 Turkish companies, with investments totaling $2.6 billion, are supporting the employment of approximately 20,000 people in Ethiopia. He noted that Turkish contracting firms have undertaken 15 projects in Ethiopia, including those in railways, transportation, factories, tourism facilities, and energy transmission lines, expressing hope for further cooperation. Erdogan described Ethiopia as a brotherly country and a key actor on the African continent, with Trkiye's first embassy in sub-Saharan Africa having been opened in Addis Ababa in 1926.
Erdogan expressed pleasure in visiting Addis Ababa after an 11-year interval and thanked Abiy and Ethiopian authorities for their warm hospitality. Highlighting cultural ties, Erdogan underscored Ethiopia's significance in Islamic culture and mentioned the restoration of the Nejashi Tomb and Mosque by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) as a project that has strengthened the bonds of friendship between the two nations.
The signing ceremony for various bilateral agreements followed one-on-one and interdelegation meetings. The 'Minutes of the 9th Trkiye-Ethiopia Joint Economic Commission on Economy, Trade and Technical Cooperation' were signed by Trkiye's Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar and Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos. Additionally, an MoU on cooperation in energy between the Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Ministry and the Ethiopian Water and Energy Ministry was signed by Bayraktar and Ethiopian Water and Energy Minister Habtamu Itefa. Following the signing and the news conference at the National Palace, Erdogan gifted Trkiye's homegrown electric car Togg to the Ethiopian premier.