Somalia welcomes Turkish-led mediation talks with Ethiopia

Somalia has welcomed the Turkish-led mediation talks with Ethiopia and reiterated its readiness to engage in economic and development cooperation with its neighbour.

The development comes after President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud held a phone call on Sunday evening with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of the Republic of Türkiye.

President Hassan Sheikh however said such cooperation must respect Somalia's sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, and adhere to international law and norms.

In a statement by the Office of the President, Somalia thanked Turkiye for its mediation efforts in helping resolve the diplomatic impasse with Ethiopia following its recent agreement with the breakaway region of Somaliland.

Turkish Foreign Affairs Minister Hakan Fidan (middle), Ethiopian Foreign Affairs Minister Taye Selassie (left) and his Somali counterpart Ahmed Fiqi address the media after the June 1, 2024 talks. (Photo: Turkey, Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

The region on January 1, 2024, signed a memorandum of understanding with Addis Ababa to lease a 20 km beach to establish a maritime base and for commercial purposes in exchange for Ethiopia recognising Somaliland as an independent country.

That agreement ignited a diplomatic tussle between the two Horn of Africa neighbours.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abby Ahmed also issued a statement on Sunday welcoming the Turkish-led mediation effort "in facilitating a resolution to the misunderstanding between Ethiopia and Somalia.

He emphasised the importance of providing Ethiopia, a nation of 120 million people, with access to the sea in a mutually agreeable approach. Turkiye enjoys cordial relations with both Somalia and Ethiopia.

In 2017, Turkey opened its biggest overseas military base in Mogadishu and earlier this year, Turkiye and Somalia signed a defence and economic cooperation agreement.