Ethiopia and Somalia Agree to Restore Full Diplomatic Ties
Addis Ababa, The Gulf Observer: Ethiopia and Somalia have announced an agreement to restore and enhance bilateral relations, including the resumption of full diplomatic representation in their respective capitals. The agreement, reached on Saturday, follows a high-level meeting between Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Addis Ababa.
The leaders discussed strengthening ties and addressing shared priorities, signaling a renewed commitment to collaboration after a period of strained relations. In April 2024, Somalia expelled Ethiopia’s ambassador and closed Addis Ababa’s consulates in Hargeisa, escalating tensions over Ethiopia’s agreement with Somaliland to use the Red Sea port of Berbera. The dispute was resolved in December through the Türkiye-brokered Ankara Declaration, which has since laid the foundation for reconciliation.
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s visit marks his first official trip to Ethiopia since the Ankara Declaration. Both nations reiterated their commitment to implementing the technical provisions outlined in the agreement, emphasizing the importance of cooperation in regional and multilateral forums.
“This visit builds on the recent agreement reached in Ankara. This renewed cooperation underscores a new era of collaboration between Somalia and Ethiopia,” Villa Somalia, the Somali Presidency, stated.
The Ankara Declaration, mediated by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, addressed the dispute that began in January 2024 when Ethiopia signed a port deal with Somaliland, a self-declared breakaway region of Somalia. Türkiye’s active mediation has been pivotal in easing tensions and fostering dialogue between the two countries.
Ethiopia and Somalia now aim to strengthen their partnership and advance mutual interests, signaling a significant step forward in their bilateral relations. The leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining dialogue and collaboration to ensure long-term stability and prosperity in the region.
