The diplomatic dispute between Ethiopia and Somalia that had led to tense regional relations has been resolved, Somalia’s overseas minister says.
Ahmed Moalim Fiqi’s assertion, carried by state TV, mentioned Somalia had made no concessions. Ethiopia has not commented on the Somali declare, however mentioned the 2 international locations had agreed to “strengthen bilateral relations”.
The 2 neighbours had been at loggerheads since final January when landlocked Ethiopia signed a maritime take care of the breakaway Somaliland, which Somalia considers as a part of its territory.
Friday’s assertion follows a go to to Somalia by an Ethiopian delegation within the newest signal of détente after a Turkey-brokered deal introduced final month.
Led by Ethiopian Defence Minister Aisha Mohammed, the go to targeted on the way forward for the African Union (AU) peacekeeping mission in Somalia.
Ethiopia has 1000’s of troops stationed in Somalia which aren’t a part of the AU drive and it has not been clear what position they are going to play sooner or later.
In its assertion, Ethiopia mentioned the 2 international locations had agreed to collaborate on the mission.
An announcement from Somalia’s overseas ministry was slightly extra equivocal saying the nation had “expressed its willingness to think about Ethiopia’s request to contribute forces” to the mission.
Somalia had beforehand mentioned it may expel Ethiopian troops over the Somaliland deal.
All through final yr, pressure was excessive after Ethiopia announced plans to build a naval base in Somaliland. The breakaway republic mentioned the deal included a dedication for Ethiopia to formally recognise it as an impartial nation, however Addis Ababa by no means confirmed this.
On the time Somalia said it saw the deal as an act of “aggression” and an affront to its sovereignty.
Somaliland, which broke away from Somalia greater than 30 years in the past, has lengthy been pushing for recognition.
Simply weeks in the past it might have been unthinkable for officers from Ethiopia’s defence ministry to be holding talks within the Somali capital, Mogadishu.
Relations between the neighbours have been so unhealthy, there have been fears a wider regional feud was brewing – with Ethiopia on one facet and Egypt backing the Mogadishu authorities.
However because of Turkey’s mediation, issues have improved, with each international locations agreeing to recognise one another’s sovereignty.
In line with the Ankara joint declaration of 12 December 2024, the Horn of Africa neighbours are to reconvene in February to carry “technical talks”.
Till then, they’re to attempt to succeed in “mutually useful industrial preparations” to make sure Ethiopia good points entry to the ocean “underneath Somalia’s sovereignty”.
It’s not clear if Ethiopia has discarded the deal it signed with Somaliland.
Somali state TV quoted Fiqi as saying “that file… was closed after Somalia’s calls for have been tabled and accepted however not attributable to concession or setting apart the rules we used to defend our course”.
Further reporting by Will Ross and BBC Monitoring
[Getty Images/BBC]
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