The geo-strategic location of the Horn of Africa States always comes to mind when writing about the region. It is not strange and its is not a novelty. This has been the case for always. The connection between Asia, Europe and Africa, the three old continents, which it represents remains not only a supply chain bridge but also a security focal point. And it is why so many countries both from near and far are involved in its affairs. It should not, therefore, be a surprise for Türkiye to be involved in the region.

What is a surprise, and a novelty is Türkiye coming into the region when it appeared to have been abandoned by the rest of the world, even the closest countries to the region – the Arab world on the other side of the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, who lived on the bounties of the Horn of Africa in the past, before they found the oil wealth under their feet and forgot to return the goodwill of the Somalis towards them.

It is how Türkiye came and won the day, in the very Horn of the continent, when its President, His Excellency, Recep Taib Erdogan with all his family members showed up in Mogadishu in 2011, at a time of a great famine and great misery in the country and the region due to droughts and other malaises including wars, conflicts, and terrorism. No one expected an international leader such as President Erdogan represented to pay a visit to a dying city such as Mogadishu represented at the time. Somalis recorded the moment in their psyches and could never forget to return the goodness of Türkiye at the time. They would forever be grateful to President Erdogan and the........

© Eurasia Review