Somalia has denied sea access to Ethiopia for military purposes. Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, the Foreign Minister of Somalia, elaborated on the nature of sea access Somalia is willing to give to Ethiopia.
The Foreign Minister of Somalia is visiting Egypt. Egypt is a key ally for Somalia in latter’s confrontation against Ethiopia over access to sea. Egypt has sent loads of weapons to Somalia in recent months. Egypt is set to deploy its peacekeepers to Somalia at the start of next year. Ethiopia and Egypt have been in dispute for a decade over Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam built by Ethiopia over river Nile. Growing Egypt-Somalia closeness is seen as a threat by Ethiopia.
Ethiopia and Somalia, on December 11, signed Ankara Declaration which was mediated by Turkiye. The two countries are set to start technical talks before the end of February 2025 to finalize an agreement about access to sea for landlocked Ethiopia.
Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, the Foreign Minister of Somalia, talking to Al-Sharq said this week that Somalia will only give sea access to Ethiopia for commercial activities; Ethiopia can build a port on Somalia’s coast and use it purely for commercial activities.
Ethiopia wants to gain access to sea, not only for commercial activities but for military presence as well. Egypt and Eritrea, not on good terms with Ethiopia, oppose Ethiopian military access to Red Sea. It remains to be seen what happens in talks between Ethiopia and Somalia. It seems that protracted and tough negotiation could be held between Ethiopia and Somalia after February next year.
Somalia Accuses Ethiopia of Violating Ankara Declaration
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