Photograph: Google Satellite
A mediation hosted by Ankara to try resolve diplomatic tension between Ethiopia and Somalia has failed for the second time.
Turkish Foreign Affairs Minister Hakan Fidan has mediated a talk between Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister Taye Atske Selassie and his counterpart from Somalia, Ahmed Moallim Fiqi for the last two days.
According to sources, the proposal that grants Ethiopia access to the seas from Mogadishu and, in return, requires Addis Ababa to recognize Somalia’s territorial integrity and political sovereignty has been rejected by Somalia.
Ethiopia appreciates Turkey’s recognition of Ethiopia’s interest of having access to and from the sea. “Ethiopia is confident that Turkey now appreciates the importance Ethiopia attaches to this facilitation and Ethiopia’s legitimate interest and the peaceful manner in which it seeks to secure dependable access to and from the sea,” reads a press statement from Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“I am confident that Ethiopia’s legitimate interests to secure dependable access to and from the sea will be fulfilled peacefully in cooperation with our neighbors,” said Foreign Minister Taye Atske Selassie of Ethiopia on X-formerly Twitter a few minutes ago.
“Somalia is committed to participating in the upcoming third round talks, with anticipation it will result in a definitive result that reinforces Somalia’s unity and sovereignty, in strict adherence to international law,” reads a press statement from Somalia’s Foreign Ministry.
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke to Ethiopia’s PM Abiy Ahmed and Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to resolve disagreements ahead of the talks.
Following the failed mediation, the delegations from Somalia reportedly head to Egypt tonight.
The foreign ministers from Somalia and Ethiopia have agreed to run a third round of indirect talks on September 17, 2024, in Ankara.
A failed mediation between the two Horn of Africa nations was held last month in Ankara.
The diplomatic tension between Ethiopia and Somalia has intensified since PM Abiy Ahmed signed a memorandum of understanding with the president of the breakaway region of Somaliland, Muse Bihi Abdi on the 1st of January 2024 in Addis Ababa to access from and to the sea and ports of Somaliland.
Ankara and Mogadishu signed an oil and gas cooperation deal in March and a compressive maritime and defense agreement in February which aims to form the Turkish Armed Forces as a partner in Somalia’s maritime zone for the coming ten years and enable Turkey to receive 30 percent of revenue from Somalia’s exclusive economic zone.
