Turkey Facilitates Key Agreement Between Ethiopia and Somalia on Maritime Access
Turkey has mediated a pivotal deal that grants Ethiopia access to the Red Sea, resolving a dispute with Somalia while ensuring Somalia’s sovereignty. This agreement annuls a prior deal that would have legitimized Somaliland’s independence, marking a significant shift in regional diplomacy.
Turkey has successfully facilitated a significant agreement between Ethiopia and Somalia, providing Ethiopia with access to the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. This resolution comes after a contentious dispute that had the potential to escalate into regional conflict. The arrangement, known as the “Ankara Declaration,” preserves Somalia’s sovereignty by not legitimizing Somaliland’s autonomy, contrasting with a previous agreement that would have allowed Ethiopia a naval base in Somaliland in return for recognizing its independence.
The context surrounding this agreement involves the longstanding claims of independence by Somaliland from Somalia, a status it has maintained since 1991 amid ongoing instability. The geopolitical dynamics have shifted recently, particularly influenced by conflicts in nearby regions, such as the Israel-Gaza situation. In January 2024, Somaliland and Ethiopia had entered a memorandum of understanding, wherein access to the Red Sea was exchanged for recognition of Somaliland’s independence, sparking disputes with Somalia, including the expulsion of Ethiopian diplomats and peacekeepers.
In summary, Turkey’s mediation serves as a crucial intervention to resolve a potentially volatile situation between Somalia and Ethiopia, granting Ethiopia new maritime access while reaffirming Somalia’s territorial integrity. The Ankara Declaration effectively invalidates the previous agreement between Somaliland and Ethiopia, leaving Somaliland’s future negotiations concerning its independence uncertain and further complicating the geopolitical landscape.
Original Source: oilprice.com
