Turkey to Host September Summit: Ethiopia and Somalia Dialogue Enters Second Round, Announces Fidan

On May 9, 2024, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan sits down with Ethiopian Foreign Minister Taye Atske Selassie in Ankara. – X/Ethiopian Minister of Foreign Affairs Taye Atske Selassie

This Monday, Ethiopia and Somalia decided to keep talking under Turkey’s mediation to resolve their beef, after Ethiopia’s eyebrow-raising agreement with North Western of Somalia earlier this year had them on the edge of skirmishes.

After meeting Somali and Ethiopian counterparts Ahmed Moallim Fiqi and Taye Atske Selassie in Ankara, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan explained to the press that Turkey is now playing “facilitator.”

The ministers had a “frank” conversation, aiming for a practical blueprint to settle their differences. The joint statement said they “agreed to proceed with continued discussions for resolving their issues and maintaining regional stability.”

Fidan mentioned that the second round of talks will happen in Ankara on September 2.

He pointed out, “Given the knotty web of factors, further deliberation is inevitable. Nonetheless, today’s dialogue sparks optimism for what lies ahead.”

Earlier this year, on January 1, Ethiopia and North Western of Somalia inked a deal giving Addis Ababa access to the Red Sea in exchange for recognizing North Western of Somalia, which Somalia contested as a breach of its sovereignty.

Turkey has always vocalized support for Somalia’s territorial bounds—home to Turkey’s largest foreign military base—while also maintaining solid ties with Ethiopia, who bought over a dozen drones from Turkey in 2021.