ANKARA (Kaab TV) – On Wednesday night, Somalia and Ethiopua reached an agreement during a meeting on December 11, 2024, in Ankara, where President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Türkiye hosted Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali.
The talks, described as cordial and constructive, focused on resolving long-standing issues and promoting shared prosperity between the two nations.
Below is the full communique on the agreement:
11 December 2024
Ankara Declaration
by the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Federal Republic of Somalia facilitated by the Republic of Türkiye
H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of the Republic of Türkiye, hosted H.E. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, and H.E. Abiy Ahmed Ali, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, on 11 December 2024 in Ankara.
The meeting, held in a cordial atmosphere, enabled a frank and constructive discussion.
The Leaders of Somalia and Ethiopia reaffirmed their respect and commitment to one another’s sovereignty, unity, independence, and territorial integrity, as well as the principles enshrined in international law, the Charter of the United Nations, and the Constitutive Act of the African Union.
They agreed, within a spirit of friendship and mutual respect, to forgo and leave behind differences and contentious issues and forge ahead in a cooperative manner to pursue shared prosperity.
Somalia recognizes the sacrifices of Ethiopian soldiers within the African Union Missions.
They acknowledged the potentially diverse benefits that could be derived from Ethiopia’s assured access to and from the sea, whilst respecting the territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia.
They further agreed to closely work together to finalize mutually advantageous commercial arrangements through bilateral agreements, including contract, lease, and similar modalities, which will allow the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to enjoy reliable, secure, and sustainable access to and from the sea, under the sovereign authority of the Federal Republic of Somalia.
They decided to start technical negotiations in good faith for these purposes no later than the end of February 2025, with the facilitation of Türkiye, to be concluded and signed in four months.
They welcomed Türkiye’s assistance in the implementation of these commitments and pledged to resolve any differences concerning their interpretation and application through dialogue and in a peaceful manner with Türkiye’s support, as needed.
They expressed their appreciation to the President of the Republic of Türkiye, H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, for this initiative and his ongoing commitment to the process.