Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Addis Ababa: Türkiye and Ethiopia Mark 100 Years of Diplomatic Ties

ADDIS ABABA, Feb. 17, 2026 — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan arrived in Ethiopia on Tuesday for his first official visit to the country since 2015, as Ankara and Addis Ababa mark 100 years since the opening of Türkiye’s embassy in the Ethiopian capital.

Erdoğan was received by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed at the presidential palace in Addis Ababa in a ceremony that underscored the symbolic weight of the visit. The trip comes at a time of expanding political, economic and diplomatic engagement between Türkiye and Ethiopia, as Ankara deepens its footprint across Africa.

Century-Old Diplomatic Ties

The visit coincides with the centenary of the Turkish Embassy in Addis Ababa, reflecting diplomatic relations that date back to the Ottoman era. Officials from both sides have described the anniversary as an opportunity to elevate bilateral cooperation to what Ethiopian state media called a “new stage” in relations.

Private Ethiopian outlet Addis Standard linked the visit to regional dynamics and the possibility of new agreements, particularly as Ethiopia navigates sensitive issues related to access to the sea and regional security.

Mediation and Regional Diplomacy

Ankara has in recent years positioned itself as a diplomatic actor in the Horn of Africa. Türkiye played a role in mediating between Ethiopia and Somalia, including efforts following the 2025 Ankara Declaration aimed at easing tensions between the two countries.

Analysts say Türkiye’s approach combines political alignment with pragmatic diplomacy. Ankara has publicly backed Ethiopia on issues such as the Nile dispute and Addis Ababa’s push for maritime access, reinforcing what observers describe as a shared strategic outlook between the two governments.

Erdoğan’s visit is widely expected to consolidate Türkiye’s mediation role in the region, particularly as geopolitical competition intensifies in the Horn of Africa.

Trade and Investment on the Rise

Economic ties have expanded steadily. Bilateral trade reached $253 million in 2025, representing a 5% increase year-on-year, according to official figures cited by Ethiopian media.

Türkiye is now among Ethiopia’s top four foreign investors, reflecting Ankara’s broader Africa strategy. Over the past two decades, Türkiye has significantly expanded its diplomatic presence on the continent, growing its embassy network in Africa to 44 missions.

Turkish companies are active in construction, manufacturing, textiles and infrastructure projects across Ethiopia, sectors considered central to Addis Ababa’s industrialization drive.

Strategic Engagement in Africa

Erdoğan’s Ethiopia trip forms part of Türkiye’s wider engagement with Africa, where Ankara has sought to combine trade, infrastructure investment, humanitarian assistance and diplomatic outreach.

For Ethiopia, the relationship offers diversified partnerships at a time of shifting global alliances and regional pressures.

As both countries commemorate a century of formal diplomatic relations, the Addis Ababa visit signals continuity in political alignment and a potential expansion of cooperation in trade, security and regional diplomacy.