Blitz Bureau
Ethiopia and Somalia have agreed to end their bitter dispute over Addis Ababa’s plans to build a port in the breakaway republic of Somaliland following talks in Turkey, according to a BBC report.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed the “historic agreement”, which he said would eventually ensure landlocked Ethiopia’s access to the sea. At the press conference he held hands with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who both agreed to respect one another’s “sovereignty”.
The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) has also welcomed the agreement.
Exemplary leadership
Mohamed El-Amine Souef, Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia and Head of ATMIS, described the deal as an exemplary act of leadership that is crucial in advancing regional peace, security and stability, reports Xinhua news agency
“ATMIS remains fully committed to supporting Somalia’s state-building and security transition, in line with the aspirations of the Somali people and the African Union’s vision for a stable and prosperous Africa,” Souef said in a statement issued in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, on December 12.
He urged the two parties to implement the agreed measures and further consolidate mutual trust and cooperation.
The two neighbours have been at loggerheads since January when Ethiopia signed a maritime deal with Somaliland – which Somalia considers as part of its territory. It prompted fears of a wider regional conflict as Egypt has been backing Somalia – largely due to its anger with Ethiopia for building a dam on the River Nile.
Turkey key player
Turkey has in recent years become an important geopolitical player in the Horn of Africa as it has close economic ties with Addis Ababa and security deals with Mogadishu. African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat also welcomed the agreement. “The Chairperson welcomes the communique signed by Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on December 11 in Ankara, under the auspices of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan,” the AU said in a statement.
The AU chief praised “this important act of high responsibility on the part of the leaders of Somalia and Ethiopia,” urging them to implement the agreedupon measures without delay.
