Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned Israel’s recognition of Somaliland as illegitimate during a joint press conference with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Istanbul. Erdogan highlighted improvements in Somalia’s security despite external sabotage and announced plans for Turkish drilling operations starting in 2026 to benefit the Somali people. Mohamud reaffirmed Somalia’s stance that Somaliland is part of its territory and criticized Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s actions against Somalia’s sovereignty.
