Somalia and Ethiopia take historic step towards improved diplomatic relations
Ethiopia and Somalia Resolve Crisis Through Ankara Process
Mahmud and Ahmed recently met for the first time after the Ankara Process in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. In a joint written statement following the meeting, both leaders expressed their desire to “re-establish and develop” bilateral relations through diplomatic channels in both countries. They emphasized the importance of strengthening relations with a strong cooperation based on mutual trust and respect to ensure regional stability.
The tension between Ethiopia and Somalia escalated on April 4, 2024, when Somalia deported the Ethiopian Ambassador to Mogadishu and requested the closure of Ethiopian consulates in Somaliland’s Hargeisa and Puntland’s Garowe cities.
The crisis stemmed from a memorandum of understanding signed on January 1, 2024, between Somaliland and Ethiopia, which declared its independence in 1991. Ethiopia’s recognition of Somaliland as an independent country and plans to provide sea access to Ethiopia angered the Somali administration, triggering the crisis.
Efforts by the Arab League, African Union, Kenya, and Djibouti to mediate the dispute were unsuccessful. However, tension decreased following Turkey’s intervention through the Ankara Process. The leaders, who last met in Ankara on December 11, under the auspices of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, reached an agreement to resolve the issue.
Under the agreement, Somalia’s territorial integrity was affirmed, and Ethiopia’s sea access requests were transformed into a mutually beneficial cooperation process. The Ankara Process played a crucial role in easing tensions and fostering diplomatic solutions between the two nations.
