ANKARA, Turkey – Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Monday separately met his Ethiopian and Somali counterparts as two African countries sought to iron out their differences in Ankara-mediated talks. Fidan first met Ethiopia’s Taye Atske Selassie before a meeting with Somalia’s Moallim Fiqi.
According to sources, the top diplomats of the two countries held separate meetings with Fidan and did not hold one-on-one talks with each other.
The Turkish delegation has been conducting shuttle diplomacy in order to find a common ground between the two sides, the sources said, adding that it will be a long process.
Ties between Ethiopia and Somalia have worsened since Ethiopia struck a deal with the breakaway region of Somaliland on Jan. 1. Türkiye has been working to end tensions between the two countries in the Horn of Africa.
An initial round of direct talks between the foreign ministers of Ethiopia and Somalia had taken place also in Ankara in early July.
The talks aim to find a way to give Ethiopia access to international waters through Somalia without upsetting its territorial sovereignty. Since Eritrea’s secession in 1991, Ethiopia has been the most populous country in the world without direct access to the sea.
Ethiopia made an accord in January with Somaliland that unilaterally broke away from Somalia. Ethiopia gained access to the sea but recognized the territory’s independence, setting off a new crisis with its neighbor.
The two countries, which have fought two wars in the past century, agreed in March to resolve their quarrel.
Source: Daily Sabah
