HARGEISA (Kaab TV) – Somali and Ethiopian officials have commenced discussions in Addis Ababa, over two weeks after signing the Ankara Agreement, mediated by Turkey, aimed at easing tensions between the two nations.
The Somali delegation arrived in Addis Ababa on Monday, focusing on implementing the Ankara Declaration.
This agreement seeks to resolve disputes and provide Ethiopia access to the Red Sea while maintaining Somalia’s territorial integrity.
Tensions between the two countries escalated in early 2024 after Ethiopia signed a controversial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Somaliland, granting Ethiopia Red Sea access.
Somalia initially demanded the reversal of the Addis Ababa MoU but has since softened its stance to engage in negotiations.
According to a statement from Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Mesganu Arga Moach, the State Minister for Foreign Affairs, reaffirmed Ethiopia’s commitment to implementing the Ankara Declaration.
Mesganu emphasized the importance of strengthening bilateral ties to achieve lasting peace, stability, and development in the region.
Somalia’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ali Omar, highlighted the discussions’ scope, which included enhancing regional peace and security by combating terrorism and fostering improved bilateral relations to ensure full implementation of the Ankara Declaration.
Amid these discussions, Somalia issued a statement accusing Ethiopian forces in the Gedo region of involvement in a deadly clash between Somali federal troops and Jubbaland state forces.
The violence in Dollow, a town near the Ethiopian border, resulted in over 10 Somali soldiers killed and several others detained by Jubbaland forces.
Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed dismay over the violence, attributing it to “third parties” attempting to destabilize the region.
The Ankara Agreement, signed on December 11, 2024, followed tensions ignited by Ethiopia’s MoU with Somaliland, which included leasing land along Somaliland’s coastline for a marine base in exchange for recognizing Somaliland’s independence.
Somalia condemned the deal as a violation of its sovereignty.
Under Turkey’s mediation, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud reached a joint declaration in Ankara.
The declaration outlined plans for technical talks starting February 2025, with a four-month timeline to conclude discussions.
The agreement emphasizes Somalia’s territorial integrity while acknowledging potential benefits of Ethiopia’s access to the sea.
Both sides agreed to finalize mutually beneficial commercial arrangements to secure Ethiopia’s access under Somalia’s sovereignty.
Meanwhile, Somaliland’s newly elected president, Abdirahman Irro, who assumed office in November, has announced plans to review the MoU signed by his predecessor, Muse Bihi Abdi.