Türkiye key partner for IGAD in Horn of Africa, says official

Türkiye is a key partner for the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and its member states, the deputy executive secretary said on Saturday during the second day of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum.

“Türkiye is a very important partner for IGAD … not only for IGAD as a secretariat but also for our member states,” Mohamed Abdi Ware said.

He noted that Ankara maintains strong ties across the Horn of Africa, including with Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan and Uganda, adding that cooperation and friendship are growing each year.

“We are really looking forward to continuing this collaboration,” he stressed.

Highlighting Ankara’s diplomatic role, Ware said Türkiye played “a very big role” in mediation efforts between Somalia and Ethiopia over tensions linked to Somaliland.

“The role of Türkiye has been well appreciated by both sides because both sides saw Türkiye as a neutral arbitrator,” he said, noting that Ankara brought the parties together and allowed them to address differences without imposing solutions.

Ware also expressed appreciation to Türkiye for hosting the forum.

He described the forum as “a very good platform for discussing world issues,” particularly at a time of global challenges, adding that IGAD will continue to engage in the event to promote peace, understanding and cooperation.

World leaders and senior government officials arrived in Türkiye for the April 17-19 fifth edition of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, a major international gathering in the southern Mediterranean city focused this year on managing global uncertainty.

The forum, held under the auspices of Recep Tayyip Erdogan and hosted by the Turkish Foreign Ministry, will center on the theme “Mapping Tomorrow, Managing Uncertainties,” according to diplomatic sources.