Over the past three months, developments in the Horn of Africa have gained new momentum, with the holding of talks between Ethiopia and Somalia, mediated by Turkey.

Ankara has taken up the challenging role of mediating in this conflict based on its close relations with both parties, including at the level of heads of state, and this role fits in well with the Turkish leader’s geopolitical ambition not only to reestablish Turkey’s former status as a leading regional power in the Middle East and the Horn of Africa, but also to boosting its claim to be a major power on the global stage.

Turkey is the second-largest foreign investor in Ethiopia, after China, with investments totaling 2.5 billion dollars across a wide range of sectors, especially construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles and food processing. Some 200 Turkish companies are operating in the country. Ethiopia accounts for about 14% of Turkish exports.

In 2021, the two countries signed a military agreement that made Ethiopia one of the continent’s largest buyers of Turkish drones and ammunition, which, along with similar weaponry from China and Iran, helped it turn the tide in its war with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) in 2022.

As for Somalia, the country is considered a stronghold of Turkish influence in the region, as the Mogadishu area is home to the largest Turkish military base abroad. In February this year, the two countries signed an agreement under which the Turkish navy will protect Somali territorial waters and help Somalai rebuild its navy.

In addition, according to the website Turkish Minute, Turkey has announced that it plans to begin oil and gas exploration off the coast of Somalia in the near future, something it is already doing in Libyan territorial waters.

According to Turkish TV channel TRT World, Ankara started mediation efforts after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed visited the Turkish President in Ankara in May this year and asked him to mediate between Ethiopia and Somalia.

On the other hand, according to Azerbaijani news agency Azer News, this happened after Abiy Ahmed’s special envoy, former Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome Wirtu, and Ethiopian Foreign Minister Taye Atskeselassie handed to Ankara a letter from the Ethiopian Prime........

© New Eastern Outlook