In a bid to mend strained relations and pave the way for a mutually beneficial agreement, Somalia and Ethiopia are gearing up to recommence discussions regarding a port deal that has caused tensions between the neighboring nations.
The foreign ministers of the two countries are scheduled to meet in Ankara next week, under the mediation of Turkey, to address the disagreements that have arisen from Ethiopia’s port deal with the breakaway region of Somaliland earlier this year.
The root of the conflict stems from Ethiopia’s decision to lease 20 km of coastline from Somaliland in exchange for recognition of its independence, a move that has been vehemently opposed by Somalia, as it considers Somaliland to be an integral part of its territory.
The agreement, signed on January 1 in Addis Ababa by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somaliland leader Muse Bihi Abdi, granted Ethiopia a 50-year lease on a naval base with access to the strategic Berbera port in Somaliland.
The implications of this deal have reverberated throughout the region, leading to a diplomatic standoff between Somalia and Ethiopia.
In response to the agreement, Somalia announced the expulsion of Ethiopia’s ambassador from the country and shut down Ethiopia’s consulates in Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland, and Garowe, the capital of the semi-autonomous region of Puntland.
The port deal is of crucial importance to Ethiopia, a landlocked country with a population of 120 million, whose economic growth has been constrained by its lack of access to the sea.
Following the secession of Eritrea in 1993, Ethiopia lost all of its former coastline along the Gulf of Aden, severely hampering its ability to engage in maritime trade and commerce.
The lease of the Berbera port is seen as a strategic move by Ethiopia to secure a vital maritime gateway for its landlocked economy.
Ethiopia’s offer to provide an in-depth assessment of Somaliland’s quest for official recognition as an independent nation was a significant development, as it marked the first time any other country had made such an offer.
The announcement came shortly after Fidan’s visit to Addis Ababa and meeting with Abiy. Somaliland, a self-governing breakaway state, has long sought international recognition, but Somalia considers any recognition of Somaliland as a threat to its sovereignty.
The Somali government strongly opposed the port deal between Somaliland and Turkey, labelling it as “outrageous” and “unauthorized”. Turkey, on the other hand, has become a key ally of Somalia, investing in various sectors and even establishing its largest overseas military base in Mogadishu.
The recent defense and economic cooperation agreement between Turkey and Somalia highlights the growing ties between the two nations. These developments underscore the complex geopolitical dynamics in the region and the competing interests of various stakeholders.
Turkey has stepped in as a mediator in the negotiations between Somalia and Ethiopia, emphasizing the need for a resolution that safeguards the territorial integrity and political sovereignty of Somalia while providing Ethiopia with access to the seas through Somali territory.
Hakan Fidan, Turkey’s Foreign Minister, expressed optimism that tensions between the two East African nations could be diffused through dialogue and mutual respect for each other’s interests.
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