Somalia and Ethiopia agree on compromise, Erdogan says
Somalia and Ethiopia have agreed on a joint declaration to end their dispute over the breakaway Somaliland region, Turkish president Erdogan announced on December 11th according to Al Jazeera.
At a joint news conference in Ankara, Erdogan thanked Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed for their “historic reconciliation.”
He said he hoped the agreement would be “the first step towards a new beginning based on peace and cooperation between Somalia and Ethiopia”, and would eventually ensure that Ethiopia, the world’s most populous land-locked country, gains sea access.
“I believe with the meeting we had today, especially with Ethiopia’s demands to access the sea, my brother Sheikh Mohamud will give the necessary support for accessing the sea,” the Turkish leader added.
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“This joint declaration focuses on the future, not the past, and records the principles that these two friendly countries, which are very important to us, will build from now on,” Erdogan later wrote in a post on social media.
Somalia and Ethiopia have had tense relations since Ethiopia agreed a deal for a stretch of coastline for an Ethiopian port with Somali breakaway republic Somaliland in January. The deal was in exchange for diplomatic recognition, although Ethiopia never confirmed this.
The move received a strong rebuke from Somalia, which branded the deal a violation of its sovereignty, setting international alarm bells ringing over the risk of renewed conflict as the dispute drew in Ethiopia’s long-term rival Egypt and Eritrea.
Somaliland seceded from Somalia more than 30 years ago but is recognised by neither the African Union or the United Nations as an independent state, Somalia still considers Somaliland part of its territory.
Somaliland has built a stable political environment in contrast to Somalia’s instability and war with the al-Shabab group.
Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy and Somali President Mohamud arrived in Ankara earlier on December 11th for the talks, which were the latest following two earlier meetings that failed to make any major progress.
According to the text of the agreement released by Turkey, both countries agreed agreed “to leave behind differences of opinion and contentious issues, and resolutely move forward in cooperation towards common prosperity”.
They have agreed to work together on commercial arrangements and bilateral agreements that would ensure Ethiopia’s “reliable, safe and sustainable access” to the sea “under the sovereign authority of the Federal Republic of Somalia.”
They will now begin technical talks before the March 2025, which are to be completed “within four months”, and continuing differences are to be dealt with “through dialogue” and with Turkey’s support where necessary.
Ethiopia’s Abiy said: “We have addressed the misunderstandings that have occurred over the past year.”
“Ethiopia’s desire for secure access to the sea is a peaceful venture and will benefit our neighbours, it is a venture that must be seen in the spirit of cooperation, not suspicion.”
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Somalia’s Mohamud said the agreement had “put a halt to their differences” and that his nation was “ready to work with the Ethiopian leadership and the Ethiopian people”.
Turkey has been mediating between the two countries since July.
Al Jazeera, The Guardian
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