Turkey has started mediating talks between Somalia and Ethiopia concerning a port deal that Addis Ababa signed with the breakaway region of Somaliland earlier this year, according to four officials familiar with the situation.
These negotiations represent the latest effort to repair diplomatic relations between the East African neighbors, which deteriorated in January when Ethiopia agreed to lease 20 km (12 miles) of coastline from Somaliland in exchange for recognizing its independence.
Mogadishu declared the agreement illegal and responded by expelling the Ethiopian ambassador and threatening to remove thousands of Ethiopian troops stationed in the country to assist in battling Islamist insurgents.
Representatives from the Somali government, Turkey’s foreign ministry, and Ethiopia’s foreign ministry, government, and intelligence service did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
A representative for Somaliland, which has struggled to gain international recognition despite governing itself and maintaining relative peace and stability since declaring independence in 1991, said it was not involved in the talks.
The objective of the negotiation remains unclear, and expectations for a resolution are low, according to two officials.
“Despite rumors that Somalia has softened its stance on refusing to engage in dialogue until Ethiopia withdraws the agreement, it seems unlikely,” one of the officials stated.
“I don’t see a way forward, and I don’t expect much will come from these talks,” remarked one official.
Turkey has developed a close alliance with the Somali government since President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s initial visit to Mogadishu in 2011, providing training to its security forces and offering development aid.
In February, the two nations signed a defense pact through which Ankara pledged to provide maritime security assistance to Somalia, aiding the African nation in safeguarding its territorial waters.
Turkey has also contributed to the development of schools, hospitals, and infrastructure in Somalia, along with offering scholarships for Somalis to study in Turkey. In return, Turkey has gained a foothold in Africa and access to a crucial global shipping route.
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