The ruling parties of Somalia and Ethiopia have sought the expertise of Türkiye’s AK Party to strengthen their political, electoral, and developmental processes. This move comes after Türkiye played a pivotal role in resolving the Ethiopia-Somalia Somaliland crisis, underscoring its growing influence in East Africa.
A high-ranking delegation from Somalia’s ruling Somali Peace and Development Party, led by General Secretary Abdurrahman Muhammed Hussein(Abdurrahman Odowaa), visited the AK Party headquarters in Ankara. During the visit, a memorandum of understanding was signed, focusing on areas such as political cooperation, energy, and student exchange programs. The agreement aims to foster closer ties and shared development objectives between the two countries.
AK Party Deputy Chairman Zafer Sırakaya emphasized the importance of Türkiye’s support for Somalia, which is preparing for its first direct elections since 1969. The Somali delegation expressed interest in leveraging Türkiye’s experience in conducting democratic elections and developing political institutions. Somalia’s upcoming local elections are expected by the end of 2025, and the AK Party’s guidance is seen as crucial in shaping the country’s democratic processes.
Following the successful mediation in the Somaliland dispute, Türkiye is now focusing on expanding its relationship with Ethiopia. AK Party plans to visit Ethiopia soon, where similar cooperation agreements with Ethiopia’s ruling Prosperity Party are expected to be signed. This marks Türkiye’s continued commitment to being a mediator and promoting regional stability through diplomatic engagement.
This strengthened cooperation highlights Türkiye’s growing role in Africa, as both Somalia and Ethiopia seek to benefit from AK Party’s experience in political processes, democratic development, and stability-building efforts.