The conflict between Ethiopia and Somalia that has created tense relations in the region has been resolved, the Somali foreign minister said.
Ahmed Moalim Fiqi’s statement, posted by state TV, said Somalia did not make an agreement. Ethiopia did not comment on Somalia’s claim, but said the two countries had agreed to “strengthen bilateral relations”.
The two neighbors have been at odds since last January when Ethiopia entered the country to sign a maritime agreement with the rebel Somaliland, which Somalia considers part of its territory.
Friday’s statement follows a visit to Somalia by an Ethiopian delegation that shows the latest sign of détente after Turkey’s agreement was announced last month.
Led by Ethiopia’s Minister of Defense Aisha Mohammed, the trip focused on the future of the African Union (AU) peacekeeping mission in Somalia.
Ethiopia has thousands of Somali soldiers who are not part of the AU force and it is not clear what role they will play in the future.
In its statement, Ethiopia said that the two countries agreed to cooperate in this project.
A statement issued by Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs contradicts this further saying that the country has “expressed its willingness to consider Ethiopia’s request to contribute troops” to the operation.
Earlier, Somalia had said that it could expel the Ethiopian troops through the Somaliland agreement.
Throughout the past year, the situation has been tense after Ethiopia announced plans to build a naval base in Somaliland. The rebel republic said the agreement included a commitment for Ethiopia to formally recognize it as an independent country, but Addis Ababa did not confirm this.
At the time, Somalia said it saw the agreement as an “act of aggression” and an undermining of its sovereignty.
Somaliland, which broke away from Somalia more than 30 years ago, has long sought recognition.
A few weeks ago it would have been unthinkable for Ethiopian defense officials to hold talks in the capital of Somalia, Mogadishu.
Relations between the neighbors were so bad, there were fears that regional conflict would intensify – Ethiopia on the other side and Egypt supporting the government in Mogadishu.
But thanks to the mediation of Turkey, things have improved, as both countries agree to recognize their sovereignty.
According to Ankara’s joint declaration of December 12, 2024, the Horn of Africa neighbors will meet again in February to hold “technical talks”.
Until then, they should strive to reach “mutually beneficial trade arrangements” to ensure that Ethiopia has access to the sea “under the sovereignty of Somalia”.
It is not clear whether Ethiopia has abandoned the agreement it signed with Somaliland.
Somalia’s regional TV quoted Fiqi as saying “that file… was closed after Somalia’s demands were presented and accepted but not because of concessions or to set aside the principles we used to defend our course”.
Additional reports by Will Ross and BBC Monitoring
Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.
Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfricaon Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
