Turkey Mediates Talks Between Somalia and Ethiopia Over Somaliland Port Deal
- Turkey hosts talks between Ethiopia and Somalia over Somaliland dispute.
- Ethiopia to lease 20km of coastline from Somaliland in exchange for recognition of independence.
- Efforts made to resolve tensions and disputes between the involved parties.
In a bid to resolve escalating tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced that the foreign ministers of both nations will convene in Ankara next week. The discussions will focus on a contentious port deal Ethiopia signed with Somaliland, a self-declared independent region that Somalia claims as part of its territory. The agreement, which grants Ethiopia a 50-year lease on a naval base at Berbera port, has been met with strong opposition from Somalia, which views it as a violation of its sovereignty. The tensions date back to January when Ethiopia agreed to lease a 20-kilometer stretch of Somaliland's coastline in exchange for recognizing Somaliland's independence. This deal has led Somalia to expel Ethiopia's ambassador and close its consulates in Somaliland and Puntland. Somalia has expressed readiness to resort to military action to defend its territorial claims, highlighting the seriousness of the dispute. During the upcoming talks, Fidan has proposed a framework that would allow Ethiopia to access the sea through Somalia while ensuring Somalia's territorial integrity is respected. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has also engaged with both leaders, advocating for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. This diplomatic effort follows a previous round of talks held in July, indicating Turkey's commitment to mediating the situation. Turkey has established strong ties with both Somalia and Ethiopia, recently signing defense and economic cooperation agreements, and aims to enhance its influence in the region through these diplomatic initiatives.