Türkiye’s Diplomatic Success in the Ethiopia-Somalia Crisis: The Ankara Declaration

The historical relations between Somalia and Ethiopia have been shaped by geographic proximity, ethnic and cultural ties, as well as tested by issues such as border disputes and combating terrorist organizations. The situation worsened, particularly at the beginning of 2024, when Somaliland, the separatist region of Somalia, allegedly signed a memorandum of understanding with Ethiopia, involving port and military base access. However, talks hosted in Ankara, at the request of both parties, marked a significant turning point in resolving these tensions. Facilitated through Türkiye’s diplomatic initiative, the peace process accelerated in May 2024 with two meetings held in Ankara, followed by discussions during the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in September 2024 at the Turkish House in New York. Known as the Ankara Process, this initiative aimed to re-establish trust between the two countries, enhance economic cooperation, and create a joint framework for combating terrorism. The peace agreement outlines a roadmap that includes enhancing border security, developing joint infrastructure projects, and strengthening the regional collaboration roles of both nations.

Türkiye’s Mediation Role
Since declaring 2005 as the “Year of Africa,” Türkiye has pursued an active diplomatic and humanitarian policy in the Horn of Africa. Through its investments in Somalia’s political, economic, and security sectors, Türkiye has become one of the most trusted external actors in the region. Simultaneously, Türkiye effectively leveraged its historical ties, economic and security relationships, and diplomatic influence with Ethiopia throughout the process. In this regard, the Ankara Process became a strong demonstration of Türkiye’s capacity in peace diplomacy.

The principles of  impartiality and inclusivity form the foundation of Türkiye’s mediation approach. By gaining the trust of both Somalia and Ethiopia, Ankara encouraged direct dialogue between the parties. Bilateral meetings held during critical phases and Türkiye’s position as a reliable actor played a key role in achieving the agreement. Indeed, during the press conference following the meetings led by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on December 11, both country leaders emphasised their historical friendship and joint development, further highlighting Türkiye’s positive agenda for the region.

Türkiye’s diplomatic success in this process can be attributed to four key factors. First, as a trusted actor, Türkiye refrained from aligning itself with any conflicting interests and maintained its economic and humanitarian assistance impartially during the peace process. The second factor lies in Türkiye’s ability to thoroughly analyse the internal political and social dynamics of Somalia and Ethiopia, presenting tailored solutions to the parties. Third, Türkiye effectively utilised multilateral diplomacy, working in coordination with regional organisations like the African Union and IGAD, successfully situating the process within an international framework. Fourth, Türkiye’s diplomatic infrastructure supported the rapid progress of the peace process.

The Significance of Outcomes for Türkiye
This peace agreement has strengthened Türkiye’s strategic position in the Horn of Africa. While achieving stability between Somalia and Ethiopia contributes to regional peace, it has also reinforced Türkiye’s reputation as a regional power and reliable mediator. This success serves as a tangible reflection of the “Türkiye model” in Africa, setting a new benchmark for future collaborations with other African nations.

The agreement also ensures Türkiye’s economic projects in the region are more sustainable and long-term, solidifying Türkiye’s strategic influence in the energy, infrastructure, and logistics sectors. Ethiopia’s search for maritime access and Somalia’s goals to enhance regional security and economic capacity have converged under Türkiye’s impartial and constructive mediation, enabling the parties to find common ground.

On the other hand, the peace agreement reaffirms the success of Türkiye’s humanitarian diplomacy approach. The Ankara Process, which bolsters Türkiye’s soft power on a global scale, not only ensures the sustainability of dialogue between the parties but also lays a solid foundation for economic development and security cooperation. Türkiye’s conciliatory and solution-orientated approach contributes to regional stability while enhancing its global diplomatic effectiveness and credibility.

In conclusion, the peace agreement between Somalia and Ethiopia marks a significant milestone in Türkiye’s regional diplomacy history. Türkiye’s neutral, constructive, and inclusive approach made this success possible. This process serves as an inspiration not only for Somalia and Ethiopia but also for other countries in the Horn of Africa. Türkiye’s diplomatic victory further solidifies its role as an actor promoting peace and security within the international community. Moving forward, the next phase will involve implementing sustainable projects in various fields that respond to the mutual expectations of the Horn of Africa nations and Türkiye, fostering deeper cooperation and shared development.

This opinion piece was published in Turkish on 12 December 2024, on the Anadolu Ajansı website under the title “‘Etiyopya-Somali krizinde Türkiye'nin diplomasi zaferi: Ankara Bildirisi”