Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated on Tuesday that Israel’s recognition of Somaliland is not beneficial for either Africa or Somaliland. Speaking at a press conference in Addis Ababa, he emphasized Turkey’s commitment to protecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries in the region and warned against the emergence of new conflicts.

Erdogan recalled that in December he had described Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, which declared independence in 1991, as illegal and unacceptable. He accused Israel of attempting to create instability in the Horn of Africa. Erdogan reiterated that regional nations should resolve their own issues and that the Horn of Africa should not become a field for competition among foreign powers.

He stressed that Israel’s recognition of Somaliland would not bring any advantage to Somaliland or the Horn of Africa, underscoring Turkey’s opposition to actions that could heighten regional tensions.