Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday advocated a peaceful conclusion for the Tigray conflict in Ethiopia that has displaced tens of thousands and left millions hungry. He also stated Turkey was willing to mediate between Ethiopia and Sudan to address a second border problem.
Erdogan spoke during a joint news conference with visiting Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. The visit comes amid a deepening of the violence in Tigray, which began in November after a political rift between Abiy and the leaders of the Tigray area who had dominated Ethiopia’s government for nearly three decades.
Thousands have been slain in the nine-month battle in Tigray that has been characterised by widespread allegations by ethnic Tigrayans of gang rapes, engineered local famines and mass expulsions of Tigrayans by Ethiopian and partner forces.
“The peace, calm and integrity of Ethiopia, which has a strategic location and importance in Africa, is vital to us,” Erdogan stated. “All the countries in the region will be affected by the deepening of the situation (over Tigray).”
Erdogan, who visited General Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman al-Burhan, chairman of the Sovereignty Council of Sudan, in Ankara last week, said Turkey was also prepared to contribute toward a peaceful resolution of a conflict between Ethiopia and Sudan over the Al-Fashaga region.
“We are ready to make whatever contribution to an amicable resolution of the matter, including mediation,” he stated.
On Wednesday, Erdogan and Abiy oversaw the signing of military accords, including a military finance cooperation contract. Details of the deals were not immediately available.
