Turkish Mediation Diplomacy: Institutional Mechanisms, Track Records and the Ankara Process

Türkiye has become a prominent player in mediation diplomacy since 2003, as the Justice and Development Party (AKP) have prioritized mediation engagements across the world, leveraging it as a strategic instrument of Turkish foreign policy. In this regard, the present paper examines the implications of Turkish mediation diplomacy, with a particular focus on the Ankara process that deescalated tension between Ethiopia and Somaliland over the Ethiopia-Somaliland 2024 Memorandum of Understanding. The paper relied on an explanatory qualitative research design, employing a combination of primary and secondary data sources. The findings revealed that Turkish mediation efforts have yielded notable successes despite persistent challenges. Türkiye played a pivotal role in de-escalating tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia following the Ankara declaration. By facilitating dialogue and bringing Ethiopia and Somalia to the negotiation table, Ankara declaration has had the potential to counter Egypt’s calculated subversive maneuvers aimed at undermining Ethiopia’s national interests. Consequently, the future of the Egyptian–Eritrean–Somali alliance appears increasingly uncertain, and the recent strain between Ethiopia and Somalia has notably eased