By Abdullahi Salad - Reporter
NEW YORK, September 25, 2026 - Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro has accused Türkiye of campaigning across Africa to prevent Somaliland from gaining international recognition.
Irro made the remarks at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) in New York, where he discussed Somaliland's recognition campaign and the diplomatic obstacles it faces.
"I think there are countries campaigning against Somaliland. Türkiye has been visiting African countries and meeting their presidents," Irro said, according to remarks published by the Somaliland presidency.
The president also identified Egypt as one of the governments he said was opposing Somaliland's recognition. He argued that lobbying by influential countries had discouraged some governments that might otherwise have considered recognising Somaliland.
Irro did not name the African countries he claimed had been considering recognition, nor did he provide evidence that Türkiye had specifically pressured African leaders to reject it.
More from Somalia
He expressed hope that governments would independently decide their positions on Somaliland in the future.
"I hope the reality will emerge and countries will independently make their own decisions in the future," he said.
Türkiye officially supports Somalia's sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. The Turkish Foreign Ministry has previously said that decisions concerning the future of Somalia and Somaliland should reflect the collective will of the Somali people.
Somaliland declared that it had separated from the rest of Somalia in 1991 and has since pursued international recognition. Somalia's federal government considers Somaliland part of its territory and receives support for that position from countries including Türkiye and Egypt.