Ethiopia and Somalia have agreed to end their year-long dispute over Ethiopia’s plans to build a port in Somaliland, following talks in Turkey. The agreement, hailed as a “historic reconciliation,” was announced in Ankara, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan facilitating the process.
“This is the first step towards a new beginning,” Erdogan said, praising both sides for their “constructive attitude.”
The dispute began in January when Ethiopia signed a maritime deal with Somaliland, a self-declared independent region Somalia considers part of its territory.
Ethiopia, a landlocked nation, had hoped to secure access to the sea through a 50-year lease for a naval base on Somaliland’s coast. Somalia condemned the deal as an “act of aggression,” raising tensions across the Horn of Africa.
At the joint press conference, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud committed to respecting each other’s sovereignty. Abiy reassured that Ethiopia’s pursuit of sea access would not harm Somalia, and both leaders agreed to further technical talks in February.
The agreement is seen as a significant diplomatic breakthrough, easing fears of regional conflict.
However, it remains unclear whether Ethiopia will abandon its deal with Somaliland, a demand made by Somalia during earlier mediation. Meanwhile, Somaliland’s new president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, has promised to review the agreement, though he did not address it during his inauguration speech.
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