Ethiopia-Somalia Talks in Turkey Delayed Amid Escalating Tensions
ANKARA, Turkey – The high-stakes discussions between Ethiopia and Somalia, which many had hoped would ease rising tensions, have been shelved for now. This unexpected delay could further elevate the stress between the conflicting nations. According to informed sources, the pause might fan the flames of hostility even more.
Turkey, eager to facilitate the dialogue, has already seen two failed attempts. They had proposed a third round of negotiations on September 17th, planning for all stakeholders to convene in the Turkish capital. The goal was to untangle the current deadlock.
A source in the know suggested the scheduling clash with the United Nations General Assembly in New York might be why the talks got delayed. This session is set to kick off soon, prompting involved individuals to prioritize the UNGA events.
Initially set for September 17th in Ankara, the next date for the talks remains unconfirmed as of now. There’s speculation they might resume after the UN assembly since both Ethiopia and Somalia are gearing up to participate in the summit in New York.
On a tense note, Somalia hinted on Saturday it might resort to deploying militia forces within Ethiopia’s borders to safeguard its nationhood and territorial sanctity. They argue this drastic measure would be warranted if Ethiopia continues its so-called ‘expansionist’ agenda.
Ethiopia, however, brushed off these claims as rhetoric aligned with Al-Shabaab, mocking that those issuing threats can’t even manage governance beyond the Banadir region. Recently, Somalia has forged defense treaties with Egypt and Turkey amid these perceived Ethiopian threats.
Controversially, Ethiopia inked a deal with Somaliland, a region declaring independence. This agreement, if activated, would provide Ethiopia with 20 kilometers of the Red Sea coastline for a military base and port, in return for acknowledging Somaliland’s autonomy.
For any meaningful discussions to resume, Somalia insists Ethiopia must drop this contentious agreement. Adding to the tension, reports suggest Egypt’s involvement could see Ethiopia boosting its military near the Somali frontier, prepping for potential conflicts.
AXADLETM
