The leaders of Ethiopia and Somalia are set to participate in the third round of high-stakes negotiations in Ankara, Turkey, aimed at stabilizing the Horn of Africa.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has already left for Ankara, Turkey on Tuesday to attend the Ankara mediated talks to address the escalating tensions that threaten stability of the Horn of Africa region.
Strained relations between Somalia and Ethiopia have deep historical roots, primarily stemming from border disputes and conflicting regional interests.
The latest flare-up involved Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s recent announcement to construct a new port in Somaliland—a self-declared independent region of Somalia.
This move has infuriated the Somali federal government in Mogadishu, which views Somaliland’s bid for recognition as a direct challenge to Somalia’s territorial integrity.
According to information reaching APA, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed would attend the upcoming meeting in Ankara.
If he attends, it would mark the first face-to-face encounter between the two leaders since the contentious port announcement.
This meeting is seen as a critical opportunity to mitigate misunderstandings and negotiate terms that could prevent further destabilization in the region
Ethiopia, a landlocked nation with a population exceeding 120 million, has been actively involved in Somalia, deploying thousands of troops to combat al Qaeda-linked insurgent groups.
The Ethiopian government has proposed recognizing Somaliland’s independence in exchange for a strategically significant strip of land located near the confluence of the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.
This area is of immense strategic importance, potentially providing Ethiopia with direct access to maritime routes that could enhance its trade and military capabilities.
For Somalia, conceding Somaliland’s independence could weaken its federal structure and embolden other regions seeking autonomy.
MG/as/APA