Ethiopia and Somalia have reached a historic agreement to end their bitter dispute over the port in Somaliland, following talks in Turkey.
This breakthrough was facilitated by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who welcomed the agreement as “the first step towards a new beginning”.
The feud began when Ethiopia signed a maritime deal with Somaliland, which Somalia considers part of its territory. This move sparked fears of a wider regional conflict, especially since Egypt has been backing Somalia due to its concerns over Ethiopia’s dam on the River Nile.
However, with this new agreement, Ethiopia and Somalia have agreed to respect each other’s sovereignty. The two countries will reconvene in February for technical talks and strive to reach mutually beneficial commercial arrangements to ensure Ethiopia gains access to the sea under Somalia’s sovereignty.
This development is a significant step towards healing the rift in the Horn of Africa.
As noted by the Crisis Group, the preliminary agreement between Ethiopia and Somaliland had heightened tensions in the region .
But with this new agreement, there’s hope for a more stable and cooperative future among the nations involved.
