Ethiopia and Somalia signed Ankara Declaration on Wednesday to end year-long dispute over access to sea. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan mediated between the two Horn of Africa neighbors. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Hassan Sheikh, the President of Somalia, met in Ankara yesterday. Turkish President, President of Somalia and Ethiopian Prime Minister held a press briefing and announced that Somalia and Ethiopia agreed to solve their year long dispute.
Ethiopia Somalia tensions escalated in January this year when Ethiopia singed a memorandum of understanding with Somaliland to gain access to sea and establish a naval base there. The MoU, if implemented, would lead to recognition of Somaliland as a country by Ethiopia.
Somaliland is internationally recognized part of Somalia but it has been existing as a separate entity for around 3 decades. It lacks international recognition.
According to Ankara Declaration released yesterday, Ethiopia agreed to respect Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity while Somalia acknowledged Ethiopian contribution in peacekeeping in Somalia.
The two sides “agreed to closely work together to finalize mutually advantageous commercial arrangements through bilateral agreements, including contract, lease, and similar modalities, which will allow the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to enjoy reliable, secure and sustainable access to and from the sea, under the sovereign authority of the Federal Republic of Somalia.”
The two sides will “start technical negotiations no later than end of February 2025, with the facilitation of Türkiye, to be concluded and signed in four months.”
Somalia recently announced that, after December 2024, any Ethiopian soldiers found in Somalia will be treated as invaders. Somalia linked the Ethiopian military presence in Somalia to Ethiopia’s withdrawal from MoU with Somaliland.
It seems that if Ankara Declaration is implemented, Ethiopian troops will not withdraw from Somalia and Ethiopia will not implement the MoU it signed with Somaliland. It remains to be seen how Ethiopia will gain access to sea through Somalia. Will it be in the form of a lease or non lease agreement? While Ethiopia has been interested in building a naval base in Somaliland, will Somalia allow Ethiopia to build a naval base on its territory?
Jubaland Forces Enter Ras Kamboni after Heavy Fighting
Eritrean President Visits Assab Amid Regional Tensions
Getachew Reda Starts Organizing Splinter TPLF Faction
More Stories
Senior Ethiopian Politician Lidetu Ayalew to Return to Ethiopia
Ethiopian Police Open Fire at Protesters in Moyale Oromia
Fiery Objects Seen in Southern Ethiopia Lead to Speculations