Ethiopia and Somalia agree to finish squabble over Somaliland port

Ethiopia and Somalia have agreed to finish their bitter dispute over Addis Ababa’s plans to construct a port within the breakaway republic of Somaliland following talks in Turkey.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed the “historic agreement”, which he stated would finally guarantee landlocked Ethiopia’s entry to the ocean.

At the press convention he held palms with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who each agreed to respect each other’s “sovereignty”.

The two neighbours have been at loggerheads since January when Ethiopia signed a maritime cope with Somaliland – which Somalia considers as a part of its territory.

It prompted fears of a wider regional battle as Egypt has been backing Somalia – largely as a consequence of its anger with Ethiopia for constructing a dam on the River Nile.

Turkey has lately grow to be an vital geopolitical participant within the Horn of Africa because it has shut financial ties with Addis Ababa and safety offers with Mogadishu.

Erdogan stated the settlement – introduced on Wednesday evening within the Turkish capital, Ankara – was “the first step towards a new beginning”.

“I congratulate both my brothers for reaching to this historic reconciliation with devotion and thank them for their constructive attitude,” he stated.

President Mohamud stated his nation was “ready to work with the Ethiopian leadership and the Ethiopian people”.

While Prime Minister Abiy insisted Ethiopia’s efforts to safe and dependable entry to the ocean didn’t threaten Somalia and the 2 had “addressed the misunderstandings that have occurred over the past year”.

The feud started on New Year’s Day, when Abiy signed a controversial cope with Somaliland to lease a 20km (12-mile) part of its shoreline for 50 years to arrange a naval base.

In alternate, Ethiopia – the world’s most-populous landlocked nation – was to reportedly recognise Somaliland as an unbiased nation, though Addis Ababa by no means explicitly confirmed this.

Somaliland, which broke away from Somalia greater than 30 years in the past, has lengthy been pushing for recognition – however Mogadishu described the transfer as an act of “aggression”.

According to the Ankara joint declaration, the 2 Horn of Africa neighbours are to reconvene in February to carry “technical talks”.

In the interim they are going to try to succeed in “mutually beneficial commercial arrangements” to make sure Ethiopia positive aspects entry to the ocean “under Somalia’s sovereignty”.

It shouldn’t be clear if Ethiopia has discarded the deal it signed with Somaliland – one thing demanded by Somalia at earlier mediation efforts.

Last month, Somaliland elected a new president – former opposition chief Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi – who promised to “review” the maritime deal.

During his inauguration speech on Thursday morning he made no point out of it.

Somaliland is situated in a strategic a part of the world, and is seen as a gateway to the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.