Ethiopia and Somalia on the Brink of a Historic Port Deal











Recent reports indicate that Somalia is on the verge of granting Ethiopia access to one of its ports, while Ethiopia is considering abandoning the memorandum of understanding (MoU) it signed with Somaliland.

Diplomatic Negotiations Underway

Diplomatic sources suggest that Ethiopia and Somalia are close to finalizing an agreement based on a ‘give and take’ principle. Under this potential deal, Somalia would provide Ethiopia with access to a port, facilitating Ethiopia’s maritime needs. In exchange, Ethiopia would abandon its MoU with Somaliland, which was signed in January. This agreement aims to resolve longstanding tensions between the two countries and improve their diplomatic relations.

Key Meeting Scheduled in Ankara

The foreign ministers of Ethiopia and Somalia are scheduled to meet in Ankara today, with Turkey mediating the negotiations. They have tentatively accepted a reconciliation proposal put forward by Turkey. This development aligns with recent statements from both the Turkish President’s and Ethiopian Prime Minister’s offices.

Press Statement from Mogadishu

In a press statement issued from Mogadishu on August 11, 2024, His Excellency President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud held a phone call with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of the Republic of Türkiye. Their discussions underscored the strong bilateral relations between Somalia and Türkiye, highlighting the importance of regional security and stability. During the call, the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing the partnership between their nations, particularly in areas of mutual interest such as defense cooperation and economic development.

Somalia’s Stance on Sovereignty

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud emphasized Türkiye’s critical role in promoting dialogue and peaceful resolutions to the region’s challenges. He also reiterated Somalia’s readiness to engage in economic and development cooperation with Ethiopia but firmly stressed that such partnerships must always respect Somalia’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, and adhere to international law and norms. The Somali President also expressed his gratitude to President Erdoğan for his unwavering efforts in addressing this issue.

Erdogan and Abiy’s Recent Discussions

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had earlier tweeted that he had spoken with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, stating, “If Ethiopia takes steps to reverse any threat to Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, it will aid the discussion process.” This statement implies that Ethiopia must formally abandon its agreement with Somaliland to move forward with the proposed arrangement.

Ethiopia’s Perspective on the Negotiations

In a related tweet, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed expressed his appreciation for President Erdoğan’s support in facilitating a resolution to the misunderstanding between Ethiopia and Somalia. He emphasized the importance of providing Ethiopia, a nation of 120 million people, with access to the sea in a mutually agreeable approach.

The Ethiopian Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that the telephone conversation took place recently. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed highlighted Ethiopia’s need for access to a sea port and emphasized that such access should be negotiated in a way that benefits both Somalia and Ethiopia.

Upcoming Round of Talks in Ankara

Adding to the recent developments, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced at a news conference in Istanbul that a second round of talks between Somalia and Ethiopia will take place in Ankara next week. This announcement follows Fidan’s visit to Addis Ababa last week, where he met with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. During this visit, Fidan discussed the issues in detail with the Ethiopian leader. He stated, “Tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia would come to an end with Ethiopia’s access to the seas through Somalia, provided that Ethiopia’s recognition of Somalia’s territorial integrity and political sovereignty is secured.”

A New Chapter in Ethiopia-Somalia Relations

The upcoming talks and the broader agreement signify a significant diplomatic shift, aiming to resolve regional disputes and enhance cooperation between Ethiopia and Somalia.