Mediating talks on a port contract between Somalia and Ethiopia is Turkey

According to Ankara and four individuals familiar with the situation, Turkey has started mediating negotiations between Ethiopia and Somalia about a port agreement Addis Ababa signed with the breakaway territory of Somaliland earlier this year.

The talks are the most recent effort to restore diplomatic relations between the neighbors of East Africa, whose relationship deteriorated in January after Ethiopia consented to lease 20 kilometers (12 miles) of Somaliland’s coastline in exchange for Somaliland’s acknowledgment of its independence.

Declaring the arrangement unlawful, Mogadishu replied by threatening to deport thousands of Ethiopian soldiers stationed there to assist in the fight against Islamist rebels and expelling the Ethiopian ambassador.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan of Turkey received his counterparts from Ethiopia and Somalia in Ankara, the foreign ministry said, and the three signed a joint statement after “candid, cordial and forward-looking” talks on their differences.

According to the statement, the ministers from Ethiopia and Somalia talked about how to resolve their disagreements “within a mutually acceptable framework” and decided to meet again in Ankara on September 2.

“The Ministers of Somalia and Ethiopia reiterated their commitment to the peaceful resolution of differences,” it continued.

Requests for response were not immediately answered by spokespeople for the governments of Somalia and Ethiopia, including the foreign ministry, government, and intelligence service.

A representative for Somaliland, which has been governing itself and experiencing relative peace and stability since gaining independence in 1991, but has failed to win international recognition, said the country was not involved in the negotiations.

According to two of the officials, there were little hopes for a resolution and an unclear negotiation goal.

“Despite rumors that Somalia has softened its stance on refusing to engage in dialogue until Ethiopia withdraws the (agreement), it seems unlikely,” a government official stated.

“I don’t see a way forward, and I don’t expect much will come from these talks.”

Since President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s first visit to Mogadishu in 2011, Turkey has grown to be a close friend of the Somali government, providing development assistance and training security personnel.

The two countries inked a defense agreement in February, whereby Ankara will assist Somalia in defending its territorial waters by means of marine security.

In exchange for securing a foothold in Africa and on a vital global shipping route, Turkey has constructed schools, clinics, and other infrastructure, as well as offered scholarships for Somalis to study there.

According to a Turkish diplomatic source, Ankara started attempting to mediate between Somalia and Ethiopia after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed paid Erdogan a visit in May and delivered a letter requesting that Turkey act as a mediator.