ADDIS ABABA — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has arrived in Addis Ababa for an official visit focused on strengthening Turkey’s bilateral relations with African nations and addressing pressing regional security challenges.
President Erdoğan and his high-level delegation are scheduled to meet with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. The leaders are expected to sign several agreements and hold a joint press conference, signaling a deepening of ties between Ankara and Addis Ababa despite ongoing regional tensions.
Diplomatic Shuffle
Turkish media outlets, including the Daily Sabah, reported that a previously scheduled one-day visit to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, was canceled to prioritize this engagement. The trip is part of President Erdoğan’s broader initiative to stabilize the Horn of Africa, where Ankara has been actively mediating between Somalia and Ethiopia.
Focus on Somalia’s Sovereignty
Reports indicate that a central theme of President Erdoğan’s discussions will be the imperative of safeguarding Somalia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national unity. This stance directly addresses the diplomatic fallout following Ethiopia’s controversial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Somaliland, which Mogadishu has rejected as a violation of international law.
This visit follows Erdoğan’s recent diplomatic stops in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, underscoring Turkey’s strategic commitment to resolving the dispute through the “Ankara Process” and maintaining stability across the region.
