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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Sunday that he will visit Ethiopia and Somalia in the first two months of 2025, following his successful mediation in ending a year-long dispute between the two Horn of Africa nations. The deal, brokered by Erdogan in Ankara on December 11, was hailed as a historic breakthrough by the Turkish leader.
The tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia had been escalating since January when Ethiopia signed an agreement with Somaliland—a breakaway region of Somalia—to lease a stretch of coastline for a port and military base. In exchange, Somaliland sought formal recognition from Ethiopia, although Addis Ababa never confirmed this. Somalia condemned the deal, calling it a violation of its sovereignty, which raised concerns about the potential for renewed conflict in the region.
After months of diplomatic efforts, including three rounds of talks mediated by Turkey, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud reached a resolution that ended the standoff. The breakthrough has been praised by the African Union, the United States, and the European Union.
Erdogan’s efforts are not confined to the Horn of Africa. The Turkish leader also reached out to Sudan, offering to mediate in the conflict between Sudan’s military and the UAE-backed Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The Sudanese conflict, which began in April 2023, has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and displaced over 11 million people.
Erdogan’s diplomatic intervention in both regions shows Turkey’s growing influence in African and Middle Eastern affairs, especially as the country steps in to mediate disputes involving global and regional powers.
