Somalia and Ethiopia are to resume their talks in Ankara, Turkey, following earlier communication-related activities that had involved shipping links between the two countries. Daud Aweys, Minister of Information for Somalia, says he is now in Turkey for the first round of technical meetings between Somalia and Ethiopia. This new round of talks aims at pushing forward the Ankara agreement towards an enduring mutual understanding for both sides.
Meanwhile, a technical delegation from Ethiopia is in Somalia to discuss, according to the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry, a situation that will allow Ethiopia to have access to a sea port while respecting Somalia’s sovereignty. The two countries have already agreed that talks should be suspended until February 2025, with Turkey taking up mediation. The developments are closely watched by the rest of the international community led by France and the UK as they represent a remarkable move toward stabilizing the Horn of Africa region.
The Somali government reiterated its commitment to peace-building, fostering cooperation, and restoring relations on the basis of mutual understanding and respect. Deputy Minister of Information, Abdirahman Yusuf Al-Adala, noted that Somalia was able to overcome earlier disagreements after engaging in lengthy negotiations. The Ankara agreement opens up great opportunities for either of the two countries to up collaboration, the air is charged with trust from the thought of hopefully good outcomes from these talks.