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Somalia and Ethiopia Restore Diplomatic Ties Following Ankara Declaration, Turkish Mediation

Jan 11, 2025, 05:31 PM

Somalia and Ethiopia have agreed to fully restore and enhance their bilateral relations through diplomatic representation in their respective capitals, following a meeting between Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in Addis Ababa. The leaders committed to strengthening cooperation based on mutual trust, confidence, and respect, aiming to bolster regional stability. This agreement comes after a year of strained relations, primarily due to a controversial maritime access deal between Ethiopia and the breakaway Somaliland region, which Somalia had rejected. The recent diplomatic breakthrough was facilitated by the Ankara Declaration, mediated by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in December 2024, which sought to resolve the bilateral crisis. The leaders also agreed to intensify economic cooperation, trade, and investment between the two nations, and to enhance security collaboration against threats posed by radical groups.