Borkena
Toronto – Turkey is among the first countries, like Egypt, to condemn Israel’s recognition of Somaliland as an independent state.
It called Israel’s action “unlawful.”
Furthermore, the ministry stated “This step by Israel, whose expansionist policies persist and which spares no effort to prevent the recognition of the State of Palestine, amounts to an explicit intervention in Somalia’s internal affairs.”
On the other hand it seems to be advocating for the inclusion of reflections of “all Somalis” in the deliberation regarding future relations between Somaliland and the Federal government of Somalia.
In a statement the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued on December 26, it said “Decisions regarding the future of the Federal Republic of Somalia and the Somaliland region must be taken in a manner that reflects the will of all Somalis.”
The Ministry has not specified if its reference of “will of the Somalis” is also a reference to the Somalis in Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti.
Turkey has been investing in “humanitarian” activities in Somalia including the construction of a hospital which is part of its $1 billion “development and humanitarian” assistance in the country. Also, in Somalia Turkey has its largest military base outside of Turkish soil.
Somaliland has been accusing Turkey of “meddling” in its affairs.
Located along parts of the west side of the Gulf of Aden, Somaliland undertook sustained diplomatic campaigns for over three decades to secure a formal recognition as an independent state.
Yet, even as a de facto state it has been undertaking diplomatic relations with several states including the United States.
In 2024, it signed a MoU with Ethiopia to offer the latter 20 kilometers of coastal land on a 50 years term basis in exchange for an unspecified percentage share of Ethiopian Airlines and a possible formal recognition as an independent state.
The development caused tension between Somalia and Ethiopia which Egypt exploited to sign a military agreement with Somalia where it is planning to send as many as 10,000 troops as part of the AU peace keeping mission and on a bilateral arrangement. It was after Turkey’s intervention as a mediator the tension between Ethiopia and Somalia eased.The current status of the MoU between Ethiopia and Somaliland is unknown.
Between 1991 and 2024, Somaliland had five presidential elections and it has its own currency.
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I highly suggest to Kenya and Ethiopia to press the government of Türkiye to clarify what its officials mean by ‘will of the Somalis’.