Somalia and Ethiopia hold indirect talks in Turkey

ANKARA, Turkey - Officials from the Federal Government of Somalia and the Federal Republic of Ethiopia held indirect talks in Turkey on Monday, as the two nations struggle to solve diplomatic rows which have grounded relationships and cooperations within the Horn of Africa.

Since the beginning of this year, relationships between the two countries have significantly nose-dived after Ethiopia signed a controversial agreement with Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia. Ethiopia wants to access the Red Sea, much to the detriment of Somalia.

Diplomatic sources told the VOA Horn of Africa Service that delegations from the two countries have not had face-to-face meetings. Instead, Turkey has been playing the intermediary role between the two countries.

Separately, Hakan Fidan, the Turkish Foreign Minister, held talks with his Somali counterpart Ahmed Fiqi before meeting Ethiopia Foreign Affairs minister Taye Atske Selassie. The Turkish envoy met the delegations twice as he minimised friction.

Key issues under deliberation are thought to include the fate of the controversial memorandum of understanding, or MOU, that Ethiopia signed with Somaliland on January 1, and Ethiopia’s quest for sea access.

Ethiopia will get 20 kilometres of the Red Sea for the construction of a naval vase should the deal be implemented in exchange for recognition of Somaliland as a sovereign state. The move has irked officials in Somalia, including President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

The official who spoke to the VOA Horn of Africa Service confirmed that the sticking points are the “language to withdraw the MOU and language of modalities to access the sea.”

Ahead of the talks, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke to the leaders of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, and Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed, to urge reconciliation. He expressed optimism in the realisation of peace and stability within the region.

In his phone call with Prime Minister Ahmed, Erdogan hinted on X that he urged Ethiopia to take steps that would eliminate Somalia’s concerns regarding its unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

On his side, Hassan Sheikh said on X that Somalia is ready to "engage in economic and development cooperation with Ethiopia” but insisted, “such partnerships must always respect Somalia's sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, and adhere to international law and norms.”

GAROWE ONLINE