Türkiye Calls for Peace as Horn of Africa Faces Rising Tensions

— #Türkiye “absolutely” does not want to see “new conflicts” in the Horn of Africa and believes the region should not be burdened with “new pain” amid ongoing suffering, President Recep Tayyi Erdoğan said Tuesday. He stressed that the Horn of Africa must not become a “battlefield” for foreign powers.

The remarks came during a joint press conference with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, marking Erdoğan’s first visit to Ethiopia in 11 years. His highly anticipated trip and press conference were broadcast live on national television.

In a seven-minute address, Erdoğan highlighted the importance of stability in the region.
“At a time when the eyes of the world are on the Horn of Africa, Ethiopia’s long-standing state structure and symbolic governance have become even more important,” he said. “I would like to emphasize our position on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the countries in the region where Ethiopia is located.”

Erdoğan’s comments follow rising fears of renewed conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Tensions have escalated in recent months as Ethiopia has repeatedly demanded access to a seaport.

Prime Minister Abiy echoed this concern during the joint press conference, underscoring Ethiopia’s need for maritime access. He revealed that the issue was a central topic in his “prolonged” discussions with Erdoğan.
“We have discussed extensively that it is not right for a country with a population of over 130 million to be denied sea access,” Abiy said. “It is against global practice to remain a prisoner of geography for a long time by our enemies, and Ethiopia’s friends like Türkiye should exert diplomatic pressure to peacefully facilitate Ethiopia’s access to the sea.”

Abiy described logistics as one of Ethiopia’s biggest “bottlenecks” to development, calling sea access “key” to the nation’s future. He characterized his talks with Erdoğan as “intense” and expressed gratitude for Turkey’s engagement.

While Erdoğan did not directly address Ethiopia’s seaport demands, he praised Ethiopia and Somalia for their participation in the Ankara Agreement, signed in December 2024. The Türkiye-brokered deal encouraged the two countries to “put aside their differences” and reaffirmed their commitment to each other’s sovereignty, unity, independence, and territorial integrity.