Turkey has initiated mediation talks between Somalia and Ethiopia regarding a contentious port agreement that Ethiopia signed with the breakaway region of Somaliland earlier this year, according to Ankara and four officials familiar with the matter.
These negotiations represent the latest effort to repair diplomatic relations between the East African neighbors. Tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia escalated in January when Ethiopia agreed to lease 20 km (12 miles) of coastline from Somaliland in exchange for recognizing its independence.
Mogadishu deemed the agreement illegal, responding by expelling the Ethiopian ambassador and threatening to expel thousands of Ethiopian troops assisting in the fight against Islamist insurgents in Somalia.
Turkey’s Foreign Ministry announced that Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan hosted his Ethiopian and Somali counterparts in Ankara. The three ministers signed a joint statement following “candid, cordial, and forward-looking” discussions.
The Somali and Ethiopian ministers explored ways to resolve their differences “within a mutually acceptable framework” and agreed to reconvene in Ankara on September 2 for another round of talks, the statement said. “The Ministers of Somalia and Ethiopia reiterated their commitment to the peaceful resolution of differences,” it added.
Representatives from the Somali government and Ethiopia’s foreign ministry, government, and intelligence service did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
A spokesperson for Somaliland, which has sought international recognition since declaring independence in 1991 and has maintained relative peace and stability, stated that it was not involved in the talks.
Two officials noted that the goal of the negotiations was unclear, and expectations for a resolution were low. “Despite rumours that Somalia has softened its stance on refusing to engage in dialogue until Ethiopia withdraws the agreement, it seems unlikely,” one official said. “I don’t see a way forward, and I don’t expect much will come from these talks.”
Turkey has been a strong ally of the Somali government since President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Mogadishu in 2011, aiding in security training and development assistance. In February, the two nations signed a defense pact, with Turkey providing maritime security support to help Somalia protect its territorial waters.
Turkey has invested in building schools, hospitals, and infrastructure in Somalia and has provided scholarships for Somali students to study in Turkey. This support has allowed Turkey to establish a strategic presence in Africa and along a key global shipping route.
A Turkish diplomatic source said Ankara’s mediation efforts began after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed visited Erdogan in Ankara in May, conveying a letter requesting urkey’s mediation between Somalia and Ethiopia.