No Breakthrough in Ethiopia-Somalia Talks in Turkey

ANKARA, Turkey – Hopes for a resolution dwindled after a much-anticipated mediation effort by Turkey between Somalia and Ethiopia over Ethiopia’s contentious pact with North Western of Somalia failed to yield immediate results during their Ankara parley.

Turkey, a key ally in the Horn of Africa, assumed the task of calming the ongoing diplomatic spat between Ethiopia and Somalia. Despite the meeting taking place, both nations must wait a bit longer for any concrete agreement.

The discord between these African neighbors began boiling after Ethiopia inked a pact with North Western of Somalia in January. Somalia rejected this move, claiming it violated its sovereignty and unity.

Under the deal, Ethiopia secured 20 kilometers of Red Sea coastline for building a naval base and port on Somali soil, in exchange for recognizing North Western of Somalia, a region which declared autonomy from Somalia.

Mogadishu staunchly opposed this arrangement.

Ethiopian Foreign Minister Taye Atske Selassie and his Somali counterpart Ahmed Moallim Fiqi engaged in what was described as “frank, cordial, and forward-looking” discussions by their respective ministries. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan orchestrated the talks.

A follow-up round of negotiations is set for September 2 in Ankara, Turkish officials announced. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia clarified that direct talks between the countries did not occur in Ankara.

“The ministers of Somalia and Ethiopia reiterated their commitment to peaceful conflict resolution and thanked Turkey for facilitating the talks and for its positive involvement,” stated an official communique.

The rift between Somalia and Ethiopia intensified post-January agreement. Somalia, determined to defend its territorial bounds, entered defense pacts with Turkey and the UAE.

AXADLETM