Somalia and Ethiopia begin talks on Indian Ocean port access
In an interview with Universal TV, State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ali Mohamed Omar, said that the two nations are engaged in discussions and aim to reach a framework agreement by June.
Somalia and Ethiopia have commenced talks regarding the latter's access to a port on the Indian Ocean.
In an interview with Universal TV, State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ali Mohamed Omar, said that the two nations are engaged in discussions and aim to reach a framework agreement by June.
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"That framework will determine the type of port to be offered, the exact location on the Indian Ocean, and the overall cost," the Minister said, a day after Somalia's President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, held talks with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in the capital, Mogadishu, during which the two leaders agreed to collaborate.
This development also follows the African Union's announcement of the final composition of the new African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), to which Ethiopia will contribute the second-largest number of troops—2,500—after Uganda’s 4,500.
If realised, the agreement will bring an end to a year-long dispute between the neighbouring nations over Addis Ababa’s pursuit of a direct trade route to the sea.
The meeting between the two heads of state resolved to normalise relations, strengthen economic and social ties, and enhance security cooperation with a view to fostering stability in the Horn of Africa region.
Abiy Ahmed emphasised that the Horn of Africa is rich in resources—fertile lands, fresh water, and human capital—yet continues to struggle with food insecurity.
"This makes integration essential to achieving our shared aspirations. We have immense potential as a region that must be harnessed to achieve our collective greatness. We cannot grow in isolation, but together, we can thrive. Regional thinking and collaboration are essential, and we are ready to work with Somalia to make this a reality," he said.
The two nations ended their hostilities in December last year following Turkey’s intervention and agreed to continue dialogue to resolve their differences.
"The two leaders welcomed the commencement of the technical talks in Ankara, as agreed in the Ankara Declaration, highlighting their commitment to constructive dialogue and cooperation," a communiqué issued after the meeting stated.
In the declaration, the two heads of state agreed, in a spirit of friendship and mutual respect, to set aside differences and contentious issues and move forward cooperatively to pursue shared prosperity.
Tensions between the two nations escalated in January 2024, when Abiy announced plans to form an agreement with Somaliland, the breakaway region of Somalia, for access to a port and a military base in the Gulf of Aden.
In exchange, the enclave was promised an unspecified stake in Ethiopia’s national carrier, Ethiopian Airlines.
Ethiopia has been landlocked since 1993, when Eritrea gained independence after a three-decade war, leaving it reliant on its neighbours' ports, primarily the port of Djibouti.
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