President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, is scheduled to visit Turkey on Tuesday, according to the Turkish Presidency. The visit comes days after Israel’s controversial recognition of the breakaway region of Somaliland.
Burhanettin Duran, Head of Communications for the Turkish Presidency, announced the visit on the Turkish social media platform, stating that President Mohamud will be in Ankara at the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
“During the talks, bilateral relations between Turkey and Somalia in all their dimensions will be reviewed, and possible steps to deepen cooperation further will be evaluated,” Duran said.
The discussions are also expected to cover Somalia’s ongoing efforts in combating terrorism, the steps taken by the Somali Federal Government to strengthen national unity, and recent regional developments. The recognition of Somaliland by Israel is likely to feature prominently in discussions.
President Erdoğan has previously stated that Israel’s recognition of Somaliland is an example of attempts to destabilize the region.
Last Friday, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced its “official recognition of the Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state.” The announcement has drawn widespread condemnation from Arab nations and the international community.
These developments unfold amidst heightened political tensions surrounding Somaliland, which unilaterally declared its independence in 1991 but has not received international recognition. The Somali government maintains its commitment to the country’s unity and rejects any external recognition of the region.
President Mohamud reiterated Somalia’s strong rejection of Netanyahu’s announcement on Sunday, calling it a “blatant violation of Somalia’s sovereignty and an aggression against its national unity.”
In a speech before Parliament, he added that Somalia refuses to “transfer the chaos and conflicts caused by Israel in the Middle East to Somali territories.”
DZWatch will continue to monitor this developing situation.
