Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is set to meet Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in Ankara, Turkey, amidst ongoing tensions over a maritime agreement between Ethiopia and Somaliland. This meeting is significant as it will be the first engagement between the leaders since the dispute erupted, particularly due to Somalia’s assertion of its territorial claims over Somaliland. Previous mediation attempts have failed, raising concerns over regional stability.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed are scheduled to meet in Ankara, Turkey, according to Somali officials. This meeting is significant as it would be the first engagement between the two leaders since a maritime agreement, signed by Ethiopia with Somaliland on January 1, sparked disputes. Sources confirm Ethiopia requested the meeting, which President Mohamud accepted. Mohamud is in Turkey at the invitation of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The aforementioned agreement grants Ethiopia access to a section of the Red Sea coastline, in exchange for possible recognition of Somaliland’s independence—an issue Mogadishu contests, deeming it illegal and a breach of its sovereignty. Somalia considers Somaliland an integral part of its territory, while Ethiopia asserts its actions do not violate Somalia’s sovereignty.
Somalia anticipates the departure of all Ethiopian troops by the end of the month, as the mandate of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia concludes. Previous mediation efforts by Turkey in July and August were unsuccessful in resolving the Somaliland dispute, with Somalia expressing a desire for Ethiopia to withdraw from the agreement.
In September, President Mohamud declined a meeting with Prime Minister Abiy during the China-Africa cooperation forum in Beijing, indicating that any discussions were contingent upon the withdrawal from the Somaliland agreement. Efforts by the leaders of Djibouti and Mauritania, along with former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, to facilitate a meeting also did not yield results. Furthermore, an attempt by the Kenyan government to unite the two leaders also failed, although Kenyan President William Ruto has expressed a willingness to mediate between the two nations.
The relationship between Somalia and Somaliland has been fraught with tension since Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991, a status that remains unrecognized internationally. The recent maritime agreement between Ethiopia and Somaliland has exacerbated existing tensions, with Somalia asserting its sovereign claims over the territory. The dynamics of the Horn of Africa are further complicated by the involvement of external parties seeking to mediate, highlighting the regional implications of these ongoing disputes.
In conclusion, the upcoming meeting between President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed marks a potentially pivotal moment in the diplomatic relations of Somalia and Ethiopia. It underscores the complexities of the Somaliland issue, the contrasting perceptions of sovereignty, and the regional stakes involved. As efforts to mediate have so far proved unsuccessful, the outcome of this meeting may significantly influence the geopolitical landscape in the Horn of Africa.
Original Source: www.voanews.com
