Somalia, Ethiopia foreign affairs ministers meet in Turkey over Somaliland’s deal with Ethiopia

The foreign ministers of Ethiopia and Somalia have convened in Ankara, Türkiye, to address and potentially alleviate the ongoing diplomatic tensions between the two nations over Somaliland’s deal with Ethiopia.

The negotiations are the latest attempt to mend diplomatic ties between the Horn of African neighbors, whose relationship soured in January when Ethiopia agreed to lease 20 km (12 miles) of coastline from Somaliland, in exchange for recognition of its independence.

Somalia called the agreement illegal and retaliated by expelling the Ethiopian ambassador and threatening to kick out thousands of Ethiopian troops stationed in the country helping battle insurgents.

However, Somaliland and Ethiopia officiallies repeatedly affirmed their commitment to implementing the agreement. President Bihi of Somaliland recently announced that the deal is in its final stages to finalize it.

Turkey’s foreign ministry said Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan had hosted both his Ethiopian and Somalian counterparts in Ankara, adding the three had signed a joint statement following “candid, cordial and forward-looking” talks on their differences.

The Somalian and Ethiopian ministers discussed ways to address their differences “within a mutually acceptable framework”, and agreed to hold another round of talks in Ankara on Sept. 2, the statement said.