Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan revealed that Somalia and Ethiopia have come to a mutual understanding to address their dispute regarding the breakaway Somaliland region and Ethiopia’s quest for sea access.
This breakthrough followed talks between the Ethiopian and Somali leaders in Ankara, Turkey.
During a joint press briefing, Erdogan expressed gratitude to Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed for their “historic reconciliation.”
He lauded the agreement, hoping it would serve as “the first step towards a new beginning based on peace and cooperation between Somalia and Ethiopia,” ultimately paving the way for Ethiopia—currently the most populous landlocked nation in the world—to secure access to the sea.
“I am confident that, with the meeting we had today, particularly concerning Ethiopia’s request for sea access, my brother Sheikh Mohamud will extend the necessary support for this initiative,” Erdogan commented.
“This joint declaration emphasizes the future rather than the past, outlining the principles that both of these friendly nations, which are very important to us, will now focus on,” Erdogan added in a social media post.
The two Horn of Africa nations have faced heightened tensions since January when Ethiopia made an arrangement with Somaliland, a region that has declared independence but is not internationally recognised. The agreement involved leasing a section of Somaliland’s coastline to Ethiopia for a port and military base in return for diplomatic recognition, though Addis Ababa never confirmed this deal.
Somalia condemned the move as a violation of its sovereignty, sparking diplomatic and military conflicts that drew the attention of Ethiopia’s longtime adversaries, Egypt and Eritrea.
Somaliland, having seceded from Somalia more than three decades ago, remains unrecognized by the African Union or the United Nations. Somalia continues to regard Somaliland as part of its territory.
While Somaliland has established a stable political environment, Somalia has struggled with insecurity, particularly due to ongoing insurgencies from al-Shabab militants.
In their latest discussions in Ankara, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy and Somali President Mohamud joined Erdogan, following previous rounds of talks that had made little headway.
A statement released by Turkey outlined the agreement’s terms, which include both nations moving beyond past disagreements and focusing on cooperation for shared prosperity.
They also agreed to initiate technical discussions on commercial and bilateral matters, ensuring Ethiopia’s “reliable, safe, and sustainable” access to the sea “under the sovereign authority of the Federal Republic of Somalia.”
The technical discussions are to be completed within four months, and ongoing issues will be addressed through dialogue, with Turkey providing support when needed.
Commenting on the reconciliation, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy said, “We have addressed the misunderstandings that arose over the past year. Ethiopia’s wish for secure access to the sea is a peaceful initiative that will benefit our neighbours, and it should be viewed in the spirit of cooperation, not suspicion.”
Somali President Mohamud, also speaking through a translator, emphasized that the agreement had “put an end to their differences,” affirming that Somalia was “ready to collaborate with the Ethiopian leadership and people.”
Turkey has been facilitating dialogue between Somalia and Ethiopia since July, working to resolve their long-standing issues.
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