Addis Ababa (TDI): President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Türkiye arrived in Ethiopia’s capital on Tuesday for a one-day official visit that marks his first trip to the country in more than a decade.
He was welcomed with full state honors at Bole International Airport by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Ethiopia’s top leadership, and senior ministers; a ceremonial reception reflecting the high diplomatic significance of the visit.
The visit coincides with the centennial of formal diplomatic ties between Türkiye and Ethiopia, dating back to 1926, and builds on decades of cooperation that have steadily deepened in recent years.
President Erdoğan and Prime Minister Abiy held a meeting, discussing and reaffirming the strategic friendship and growing cooperation between the two countries. Both leaders stressed on mutual commitment to expand cooperation across multiple sectors.
The two sides signed a memorandum of understanding on energy cooperation, the Turkish Energy Ministry said, adding the accord would lead to joint production and projects.
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Cooperation in international forums, including climate negotiations linked to COP31, which will be held in Türkiye next year, then in Ethiopia, was also discussed.
Speaking at a joint news conference, Abiy said that he discussed Ethiopia’s “quest for sea access” with the Turkish leader and welcomed the strong and constructive discussions on the matter.
Turkiye has had close ties with Ethiopia. In 2024 Ankara helped resolve a dispute between Ethiopia and Somalia on Addis Ababa’s plan to build a port in the breakaway region of Somaliland.
Ethiopia, which has been landlocked since Eritrea’s independence in 1993, has repeatedly described gaining reliable maritime access as a strategic priority.
The leaders discussed expanding trade relations, with Ethiopian officials saying both sides want to increase trade to at least $1 billion.
Abiy also encouraged greater investment by Turkish companies in Ethiopia, which already hosts one of the largest concentrations of Turkish businesses in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in manufacturing and construction.
Abiy also described the meetings as successful and fruitful, saying Ankara recognizes Ethiopia’s strategic importance in the region.
