A delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Somalia, Ali Omar, arrived in Addis Ababa for an official visit in yesterday December 23, 2024.

A statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Somalia on its X page indicated that the delegation’s visit was aimed at solidifying the commitments made in the Ankara agreement.

According to the statement, the visit reaffirms Somalia’s dedication to strengthening its bilateral relations with Ethiopia, as agreed upon by the leaders of both nations in Ankara. This agreement was described as “historic” by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who hoped it would mark the beginning of peace and cooperation between the two countries.

Apart from this during a recent official visit by French President Emmanuel Macron to Ethiopia, he expressed his support for Ethiopia’s efforts to negotiate accessing to the sea with neighboring countries while adhering to international law.

The initial agreement between Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia and President Hassan Sheikh Mohamed of Somalia was signed in Ankara, Turkey on December 11, 2024. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Somalia emphasized that the delegation’s visit will focus on exploring opportunities for cooperation based on mutual respect and shared interests.

“The Federal Government of Somalia is dedicated to strengthening relationships with neighboring countries while upholding sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the minister added.

Following the agreement reached between the leaders, Turkish President Erdogan mentioned during a joint press conference that the deal would provide landlocked Ethiopia with access to a seaport.

The agreement specifies that Ethiopia and Somalia will collaborate closely to establish a trade and bilateral agreement that will grant Ethiopia a safe, secure, and sustainable access to the sea under Somalia’s sovereignty.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed stated that through discussions, he successfully resolved the dispute between Somalia and Ethiopia for the past one year. “Ethiopia’s peaceful pursuit of access to the sea is mutually beneficial to our neighbors, and should be seen as a collaborative effort,” he emphasized.

The Prime Minister further expressed that “constructive dialogue” will propel Ethiopia and Somalia forward into the next year with a shared commitment to working together in cooperation, friendship, and harmony.

The conflict between Ethiopia and Somalia, causing tension beyond the two countries in the Horn of Africa region, intensified after Ethiopia signed an agreement with Somaliland, a region that has declared its independence from Somalia.

It is worth noting that the leaders of Ethiopia and Somalia met in Ankara for the first time since the conflict began, facilitated by the Turkish President. During this meeting, they released a document named the ‘Ankara Declaration,’ outlining the main issues on which they had reached an agreement.

The Ankara document, issued by the Turkish Government’s Communications Directorate, primarily addresses the access to the disputed sea corridor between Ethiopia and Somalia.

Additionally, the document brings attention to past criticisms from Somalia regarding the presence of the Ethiopian army deployed under the African Union. Somalia had requested the withdrawal of these troops from its territory by January.