Ethiopia-Somalia Border Dispute: Top Diplomats Hold First Round of Talks in Turkey

Ethiopia-Somalia Border Dispute: Top Diplomats Hold First Round of Talks in Turkey

Ankara, Turkey: Top diplomats from Ethiopia and Somalia held the first round of technical talks in Turkey on Tuesday to resolve a dispute triggered by Ethiopia’s agreement with Somalia’s breakaway region, Somaliland, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.

Turkey is mediating between the two African nations due to growing concerns about potential conflict in the region. Last year, landlocked Ethiopia signed a memorandum of understanding with Somaliland to lease land along its coastal area for the establishment of a naval base.

As part of the deal, Ethiopia would formally recognize Somaliland’s independence for the first time. However, Somalia considers this agreement a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

In December, leaders from Somalia and Ethiopia met in Turkey and agreed to begin technical talks aimed at reaching a possible deal that would respect Somalia's territorial integrity while allowing Ethiopia access to the sea.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry announced that delegations led by Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos and Somalia’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ali Mohamed Omar, initiated the first round of technical negotiations in the Turkish capital, Ankara.

"The two delegations demonstrated their commitment to the spirit and letter of the Ankara Declaration," the Ministry said, referring to a joint statement made in December. "They began the concrete work to transform this vision into reality."

The next round of talks is scheduled for March, according to the Ministry.

Turkey has significant investments in Somalia, including the country’s largest overseas military base.

Somaliland seceded from Somalia over 30 years ago, but it is not recognized as an independent state by the African Union or the United Nations. Somalia views Somaliland as part of its territory.

Ethiopia, with a population of about 120 million, is the most populous landlocked country in the world.