Somali Officials Embark on Diplomatic Mission to Turkey for Critical Talks with Ethiopia

Mogadishu (AX) – On Sunday, a Somali delegation headed by Foreign Affairs honcho Ahmed Maalam Faqi embarked on a trip to Turkey for talks between Somalia and Ethiopia, hosted by Ankara.

The Somali Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized in a communiqué that preserving the nation’s sovereignty and territorial rights remains a top priority.

Turkey has signaled its willingness to step in as a mediator in the diplomatic tiff between Somalia and Ethiopia. Nonetheless, the specifics—like the agenda and dates—of the meeting are shrouded in mystery.

Not long ago, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan had pow-wows with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, delving into the escalating friction between Addis Ababa and Mogadishu.

The friction took flight back in January when Ethiopia and North Western of Somalia, a self-proclaimed republic in northern Somalia, inked a pact. This accord entailed Ethiopia’s formal recognition of North Western of Somalia in return for a 20-kilometer naval access strip to the Red Sea, leased for half a century.

Somalia has consistently rebuffed any dialogue with Ethiopia over the lease deal in North Western of Somalia, cautioning Addis Ababa against meddling in its domestic matters.