Ankara Declaration aimed to resolve long-standing sea access dispute, but technical negotiations have stalled.
Last December, there was a significant beacon of hope for regional stability. On December 11, 2024, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey hosted a pivotal meeting in Ankara with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
This landmark gathering led to the “Ankara Declaration,” a testament to Turkey ‘s peace diplomacy under President Erdoğan’s leadership. The leaders from Somalia and Ethiopia reaffirmed their respect for each other’s sovereignty, unity, independence, and territorial integrity. Crucially, they agreed to set aside their differences and move forward with resolve towards shared prosperity.
The Declaration specifically acknowledged the potential benefits of Ethiopia gaining secure access to the sea, while emphatically respecting Somalia’s territorial integrity. Both parties committed to establishing mutually beneficial commercial agreements to ensure Ethiopia’s reliable and sustainable sea access under Somalia’s sovereign jurisdiction.
In a show of good faith, they agreed to initiate technical negotiations by the end of February 2025, with the ambitious goal of finalizing an agreement within four months, all under Turkey’s ongoing facilitation. Head of Communications Fahrettin Altun hailed this as a prime example of Turkey’s impactful peace diplomacy, highlighting its trusted position in Africa.
However, six months later, the optimistic momentum has unfortunately faltered. The technical negotiations between Somalia and Ethiopia have now been officially suspended. According to reports from the Africa Intelligence, these crucial talks have stalled indefinitely, with no new date set for their resumption. It’s been confirmed that the technical discussions did not yield the tangible results both sides, and indeed the region, had hoped for. This suspension underscores the persistent challenges in mediating complex geopolitical issues, even with high-level diplomatic engagement.