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President Erdogan Plans Ethiopia and Somalia Visits

President Erdogan Plans Ethiopia and Somalia Visits

Ankara, December 16, 2024 – The Europe Today: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced plans to visit Ethiopia and Somalia in early 2025, following Türkiye’s pivotal role in brokering an agreement that ended nearly a year of tensions between the two African nations over maritime access to the Red Sea.

The breakthrough accord, achieved after a marathon seven-hour meeting, was highlighted by Erdogan during a youth gathering in Erzurum on Saturday. “We signed the deal, and we finished the job,” he said, emphasizing Türkiye’s diplomatic success in resolving the long-standing conflict.

Erdogan’s planned visit in January and February 2025 will build on the momentum of the Ankara Declaration, a joint statement issued last Wednesday after Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud met in Türkiye’s capital. The declaration reaffirmed both nations’ commitment to each other’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity.

Erdogan credited Türkiye’s unique position and strong relations with both nations for facilitating the agreement. He noted that past efforts by other mediators had failed to address Ethiopia’s concerns as a landlocked country and Somalia’s strategic access to the Red Sea.

“Many countries have been involved in this issue, but they have not been able to settle it,” Erdogan said, adding that his “special rapport” with Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was instrumental in bridging differences.

The maritime dispute escalated earlier this year when Ethiopia signed a deal with Somalia’s breakaway Somaliland region to use the Red Sea port of Berbera, further straining relations. Türkiye, leveraging its longstanding ties with Somalia and its economic and defense partnerships, played a critical role in resolving the impasse.

Erdogan highlighted Türkiye’s history of supporting Somalia during critical periods, including combating terrorism and investing in infrastructure. “We made investments there and took steps against terrorist organizations,” he said, citing economic aid and defense agreements as key components of Türkiye’s involvement in the region.

Expressing pride in the Ankara Declaration, Erdogan remarked, “This is how we announced a beautiful future to Africa; we announced it to the whole world. When we are sincere and our intentions are good, everything can happen.”

Erdogan’s upcoming visit underscores Türkiye’s growing influence in African diplomacy and its commitment to fostering stability and cooperation in the region.