By Zamzam Mohamed - Reporter
Turkey, 10 January 2026 – Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan says Ankara has successfully led a "high-stakes diplomatic containment" to prevent a wave of international recognition for Somaliland, following Israel’s controversial move.
Speaking in a special interview with broadcaster TRT Haber on Friday night, Fidan detailed an intensive negotiation campaign focused on Western capitals and regional powers to ensure that Israel’s late-December 2025 recognition of Somaliland is not replicated by other countries.
Fidan emphasized that Turkey’s primary objective over the past year has been to ensure that Somaliland’s quest for sovereignty remains internationally isolated.
He revealed that Turkish diplomats have been working behind the scenes to lock in commitments from countries that were reportedly "on the fence" regarding Somaliland’s sovereignty.
"We have negotiated extensively with the West and made a serious effort to prevent any other country from recognizing [Somaliland]," Fidan stated during the interview. He added that, thankfully, none of the countries that were initially expected to recognize the entity did so, and expressed hope that they would continue to refrain from such actions in the future.
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Turkey, which serves as one of Somalia's primary military and economic patrons, has framed the prevention of recognition as a necessity for "regional survival," viewing any move to validate Somaliland’s 1991 secession as a catalyst for a "domino effect" that could dismantle the federal state in Mogadishu.
Despite Turkey’s claims of success, the situation remains fluid. The recent announcement of Israeli support for Somaliland has added a new layer of complexity to Ankara's prevention efforts, with Fidan describing the move as the "greatest misfortune" that could befall Somaliland.
He characterized the recognition not as a reflection of Somaliland's merit, but as a move serving a "regional policy" he described as an "evil purpose". However, Fidan remained optimistic, suggesting that the "Western front" remains largely aligned with Ankara’s view that Somali territorial integrity is non-negotiable for regional peace.
Fidan further noted that the "Somaliland project" was a plan supposed to be implemented two years ago but was abandoned when Turkey successfully brought Ethiopia and Somalia together. He suggested that Israel’s recent actions were a response to its own regional isolation following the conflict in Gaza.
Pointing to the strategic importance of the Gulf of Aden and the Bab el-Mandeb strait, Fidan warned that the current geopolitical "game" involves controlling vital maritime entrances, a development Turkey countered by quickly establishing diplomatic contacts and cooperation across the Islamic world and with regional partners.
