Turkey-Israel Tension in Horn of Africa and Beyond

 The Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies published on 6 January 2026 an analysis titled "From Syria to Somaliland: Turkey-Israel Competition Reshapes Region" by Burcu Ozcelik.

Turkey has a strong relationship with Somalia, increasing interests in the region, and opposes Israel's recent recognition of breakaway Somaliland.  This development adds to tension between Turkey and Israel in the Horn of Africa.  Turkish and Israeli interests also diverge sharply in Syria, Gaza, Cyprus, and Greece.

Somaliland and Kurdistan: Are There Parallels?

The Kurdistan Tribune published on 25 July 2014 commentary titled "Kurdistan Independence: Gleam of Hope for Somaliland" by Mohamed Abdilahi Duale, a political analyst in Somaliland.  The author makes the argument that Iraqi Kurdistan and Somaliland share many important underlying factors.