Ethiopia and Somalia have reached an agreement in Ankara, Turkey to ease their dispute over access to the sea.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud signed the agreement on December 11, 2024, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan acting as a mediator.

Both leaders expressed their commitment to respecting each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as adherence to international law and the principles of the African Union.

The agreement ensures Ethiopia will have permanent access to the sea while still respecting Somalia’s territorial unity within the Federal Republic.

Additionally, both countries pledged to avoid future disputes and work towards mutual prosperity through cooperation.

As part of the agreement, Ethiopia and Somalia aim to begin technical negotiations within the next four months, with a deadline set for February 2025.

According to the agreement, “Somalia acknowledges the sacrifices made by Ethiopian national defense force (ENDF) in the African Union mission.”

The two leaders agreed that Ethiopia will have safe, secure, and continuous access to the sea gate, which will be implemented under the authority of the sovereign government of Somalia through contracts and other modalities, including leases.

In addition, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s role in facilitating the discussion was acknowledged. The two leaders welcomed Turkey’s continued support for the implementation of the agreement and the resolution of future differences through dialogue.

The agreement is seen as an important step towards regional stability and economic cooperation in the Horn of Africa.

It is remembered that tensions in the region were escalated following the access to the sea Agreement signed by Ethiopia with Somaliland, which was considered a violation of Somalia’s territorial sovereignty by Mogadishu.

Meanwhile, Djibouti’s Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, a candidate for the chairmanship of the African Union Commission, announced in a statement in Addis Ababa that his country views the agreement between Ethiopia and Somalia brokered by Turkey positively.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs added that Djibouti had previously stated it would allow Ethiopia to manage the port of Tajura, and declared that its position on this matter remains unchanged.