Somalia and Ethiopia are set to engage in talks, facilitated by Turkey, aimed at resolving their differences and establishing new bilateral agreements. This was confirmed in a joint statement following a meeting on Wednesday evening in Ankara between Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, mediated by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
“The parties have agreed to initiate technical negotiations with Turkey's assistance to address their outstanding issues by the end of February 2025, with the aim of finalizing and signing relevant bilateral agreements within four months,” the statement released by Turkey's presidential communications office read.
The statement highlighted that “the leaders of Somalia and Ethiopia... have committed to moving forward in a spirit of cooperation, setting aside past disputes and focusing on achieving shared prosperity.”
Somalia acknowledged the sacrifices made by Ethiopian troops during African Union operations, while both sides recognized the significant benefits Ethiopia could gain from secure maritime access, provided Somalia's territorial integrity is maintained.
The agreement also noted that Somalia and Ethiopia will work closely to draft bilateral accords, ensuring Ethiopia has “reliable, secure, and sustainable access to the sea under the sovereign jurisdiction of the Federal Republic of Somalia.”
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Based on TASS materials