Erdogan mediates in Somalia-Ethiopia rift over Somaliland

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hosted separate meetings in Ankara yesterday with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, aiming to mediate between the two over the breakaway Somaliland region. The meetings culminated in a joint news conference where an agreement to revive peace talks was announced.

“In one sense, this is an ending because it brings an end to our dispute,” Mohamud was quoted as saying. Erdogan added that, “We have taken the first step toward a new beginning based on peace, cooperation between Somalia, Ethiopia.”

Relations between the two East African countries deteriorated after Ethiopia signed an agreement with Somaliland on 1 January to use the Red Sea port of Berbera, heightening tensions. Turkiye, leveraging its strong ties with both countries, has acted as a mediator, providing development assistance to Somalia and training its security forces.

Somali Cumhurbaşkanı Hasan Şeyh Mahmud ve Etiyopya Başbakanı Abiy Ahmed’i ülkemizde ağırlamaktan büyük bir memnuniyet duydum. 🇹🇷🇸🇴🇪🇹

Somali ve Etiyopya’nın ülkemize duyduğu güven neticesinde, yaklaşık 8 ay önce başlattığımız Ankara Süreci’nde bu akşam önemli bir aşamaya geldik.… pic.twitter.com/AhYmDKjsH4

— Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (@RTErdogan) December 11, 2024

While Turkiye previously hosted two rounds of negotiations, a planned third round in September was cancelled due to rising discord. The new agreement, reached during the Turkiye-mediated discussions, commits Somalia and Ethiopia to begin technical negotiations by February 2025 and conclude them within four months.

The leaders of both countries expressed gratitude to Erdogan for brokering peace, said Mohamud “We are grateful for Turkiye’s efforts. Somalia will be a true friend of Ethiopia, now and in the years to come.”

Ahmed thanked Erdogan and the Turkish government and people for their efforts in establishing peace and stability in the Horn of Africa. “These efforts brought us to today’s meeting at the leaders’ level, where we addressed misunderstandings that have built up over the years,” he explained.

“This mediation is a strong manifestation of Turkiye’s diplomacy mentality that produces fair and sustainable solutions,” said Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on social media. “We have heeded the sensitivities, priorities and expectations during the entire process

READ: Turkiye and Somalia sign a new Memorandum on energy exploration