The second round of talks brokered by Türkiye aimed at easing tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia has ended without any result.
The talks kicked off in Ankara on Monday and continued on Tuesday.
Confirming the conclusion of the meeting without results and announcing another round, Somalia’s Foreign Minister Ahmed Fiqi posted on X, “The third round of talks has been scheduled to take place” in Türkiye.
Somalia’s position remains unchanged, he said.
Echoing the same position, Hussein Sheikh-Ali, the National Security Adviser of Somalia, also posted on X: “Together, we continue to safeguard our sovereignty.”
Going into the talks, there were reports suggesting that the Ethiopia was bieng lured away from a controversial port access deal by Somalia’s breakaway enclave of Somaliland with a similar offer by Mogadishu.
This has not been independently verified.
In an official statement issued Tuesday evening via its Foreign Ministry, Ethiopia extended its deep gratitude to the government of Türkiye, particularly President Reccep Tayyip Erdogan, for his initiative to bring the two neighbourly countries, Ethiopia and Somalia, to find amicable solution to recent differences.
The statement said Ethiopia is confident that Türkiye now appreciates the importance Ethiopia attaches to this facilitation and her legitimate interest and the peaceful manner in which it seeks to secure dependable access to and from the sea. Ethiopia has endeavoured to de-escalate tensions and restore normal relations in the region.”
“The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia looks forward to having continued engagement that will ultimately help resolve current differences and restore normal relations,” it said.
The ministry affirmed that Ethiopia looks forward for a more fruitful upcoming third round of talks with Somalia.
MG/as/APA