Somalia, Ethiopia Sign Ankara Declaration to Resolve Maritime Dispute

Dec 12, 2024, 09:30 PM

Somalia and Ethiopia have agreed to end their dispute over maritime access, signing the Ankara Declaration under the mediation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The agreement, which took place in Ankara, aims to resolve tensions that arose from Ethiopia's deal with Somaliland for sea access. The declaration outlines a roadmap for negotiations to begin by February 2025, focusing on Ethiopia's access to the sea while respecting Somalia's sovereignty. The leaders of both countries expressed gratitude to Erdogan for his role in facilitating the agreement, which they hope will foster regional cooperation and peace. The deal with Somaliland, signed on January 1, involved leasing 20 kilometers of seafront for 50 years in exchange for diplomatic recognition, a move Somalia rejected as a violation of its sovereignty. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan played a pivotal role in the mediation process, and the UN, through spokesman Stephane Dujarric, welcomed the agreement as a positive step.