Ethiopia and Somalia to resume port deal talks under Turkish mediation

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held separate meetings on Monday with his Ethiopian and Somali counterparts as the two Horn of Africa nations engaged in Ankara-mediated discussions to resolve their differences.

Fidan first met with Ethiopia's Foreign Minister, Taye Atske Selassie, followed by a meeting with Somalia's Foreign Minister, Moallim Fiqi. 

Officials did not disclose further details about the content or outcomes of these meetings.

Relations between Ethiopia and Somalia have been strained since Ethiopia struck a deal with the self-declared independent region of Somaliland on January 1, which escalated tensions in the region. 

The international community condemned Addis Ababa’s actions, urging Ethiopia to respect Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. 

Despite these calls, Ethiopia has largely maintained its position on the agreement.

Turkey has been actively working to mediate and reduce tensions between the two countries. 

The initial round of direct talks between the foreign ministers of Ethiopia and Somalia took place in Ankara in early July, followed by a visit from the Turkish foreign minister to Ethiopia in August, where he met with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

Ethiopia Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. (Photo: Handout)

The ongoing discussions are aimed at finding a solution that would allow Ethiopia access to international waters through Somalia without compromising Somalia’s territorial sovereignty. 

Ethiopia, the most populous landlocked country in the world, lost its sea access in 1991 when Eritrea seceded and later became an independent nation.

Ankara enjoys close economic, diplomatic, and military friendships with Somalia and Ethiopia.

Turkey has become a close ally of the Somali government since President Recep Tayyip Erdogan first visited Mogadishu in 2011, training its security forces and supplying development assistance.

In February, Turkey and Somalia signed a defence pact under which Ankara will provide maritime security support to help Somalia defend its territorial waters. 

Turkey has also made significant investments in Somalia, including the construction of schools, hospitals, and infrastructure, and offering scholarships for Somali students to study in Turkey. 

In return, Turkey has secured a strategic foothold in Africa, particularly along a key global shipping route.