Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed visited Mogadishu, welcomed by Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohammed, marking progress in reconciliation after the Ankara Declaration. This agreement emphasizes mutual sovereignty respect, with Ethiopia retracting a memorandum regarding Somaliland. Ethiopia will contribute troops to the AUSSOM mission in support of Somalia against jihadist threats, highlighting strengthening ties facilitated by Turkey.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed made an official visit to Mogadishu on February 27, welcomed at the airport by Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohammed. This visit signifies a pivotal move towards fostering reconciliation between Ethiopia and Somalia, following the “Ankara Declaration” signed in December under the mediation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
The Ankara Declaration emphasizes mutual respect for each nation’s sovereignty, unity, independence, and territorial integrity. Consequently, Ethiopia has withdrawn its prior memorandum that proposed recognizing the secessionist region of Somaliland in exchange for naval access along the Somali coast. The Somali government had previously condemned this memorandum as an infringement on its territorial integrity.
In 2024, Turkey has offered its assistance to facilitate dialogue between the two nations, culminating in a commitment that ensures Ethiopia’s access to the sea under Somali sovereignty. Moreover, Ethiopia has agreed to provide 2,500 troops to AUSSOM, the newly established African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia, aimed at assisting the Somali military against jihadist threats.
Turkey maintains a significant military presence within Somalia, and recent developments have improved relations between Ethiopia and Turkey. This strengthening relationship is attributed to the political alignment between Prime Minister Ahmed’s Prosperity Party and President Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party. At present, an Ethiopian delegation is participating in the 8th AKP Congress in Turkey.
In summary, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s visit to Mogadishu marks a crucial step toward strengthening ties between Ethiopia and Somalia. The signing of the Ankara Declaration signifies mutual commitments to respect sovereignty and work collaboratively. Furthermore, Ethiopia’s pledge of troops to assist Somalia’s military underscores the deepening partnership between these nations, further facilitated by Turkey’s supportive role.
Original Source: www.fides.org
