Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is scheduled to arrive in Ankara on Tuesday for a high-stakes meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, according to sources familiar with the diplomatic agenda. The visit occurs amidst escalating regional tensions following Israel’s unprecedented recognition of the breakaway Somaliland region over the weekend.
While the presidential summit was arranged prior to the recent diplomatic developments, Ankara officials anticipate that Erdogan will strongly address Israel’s controversial move during bilateral discussions. The talks are expected to focus extensively on the implications of Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, which has drawn widespread international condemnation.
A significant portion of the agenda will center on energy cooperation, particularly the results of seismic surveys completed in October. Both leaders are projected to make a joint announcement regarding hydrocarbon exploration initiatives, building upon recent statements by Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar who confirmed Ankara’s plans to commence drilling operations off the Somali coast by 2026.
Turkey’s substantial investment in Somalia spans over a decade, with more than $1 billion in humanitarian assistance provided since 2011. Ankara maintains the world’s largest embassy compound in Mogadishu and operates a major military training facility where thousands of Somali soldiers have received instruction. Turkish corporations currently manage critical infrastructure including the capital’s airport and seaport, with additional plans underway to establish a spaceport facility.
The bilateral relationship expanded significantly last year through a confidential defense and energy pact that positioned Turkey as the protector of Somali maritime territory. This agreement facilitated energy exploration activities by Turkish research vessels escorted by naval forces, particularly during escalating tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia.
Israel’s recognition of Somaliland has prompted a unified response from twenty-two nations and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, who jointly condemned the move. Notably absent from the condemnation was the United Arab Emirates, which maintains longstanding relations with Somaliland and is considered a key advocate for its international recognition.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 following the collapse of the unified Somali Republic established in 1960. While operating as a de facto independent state for three decades, no permanent UN Security Council member has formally recognized its sovereignty.