A delegation from Somalia has arrived in Addis Ababa, where a meeting Ethiopian officials are underway to implement the terms of a deal reached in Turkey earlier this month to resolve a dispute between the two Horn neighbours.
The meeting is dwelling on the Ankara declaration reached between leaders Ethiopia and Somalia, aiming at ending the state of mistrust.
The visit comes on the heels of a deal mediated by Turkey which sought to resolve the friction sparked between Addis Ababa and Mogadishu after the former had signed a controversial MoU with Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia last January.
The MoU was intended to provide Ethiopia access to the Red Sea through Somaliland’s coastline in exchange for potential recognition of the enclave’s independence.
In a statement on Monday, Somalia’s foreign affairs ministry said the visit “underscores Somalia’s unwavering commitment to deepening bilateral ties with Ethiopia, as outlined in the Ankara Declaration forged by the leadership of both nations.”
The Somali officials will “focus on exploring transformative opportunities to cultivate a partnership founded on mutual respect, common interest, and cooperation.”
Somalia said it remains resolute in its vision to foster robust relations with her neighbours, firmly anchored in the principles of sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity.
The declaration, signed in Ankara during a meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, and Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, reaffirmed “respect and commitment to one another’s sovereignty, unity, independence, and territorial integrity,” according to a joint statement.
The agreement recognised the “potentially diverse benefits” of Ethiopia gaining “assured access to and from the sea,” while emphasising respect for “the territorial integrity of Somalia.”
It also stated that the leaders agreed “to forgo and leave behind differences and contentious issues.”
MG/as/APA