Somalia and Ethiopia leaders discuss ties on anniversary of Ankara Declaration
The Ankara declaration, signed in December 2024, was hailed by world leaders for calming fears of a wider regional conflict in the Horn of Africa.
The leaders of Somalia and Ethiopia held talks in Addis Ababa on the first anniversary of the Ankara Declaration, a peace agreement that deescalated tensions between the two Horn of Africa neighbours.
The declaration, signed in December 2024 in the Turkish capital, Ankara, followed mediation efforts by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to resolve a stalemate sparked by Addis Ababa's deal with Somalia's breakaway region of Somaliland for access to the Red Sea.
It was hailed by world leaders for calming fears of a wider regional conflict in the Horn of Africa. Its terms included the two countries agreeing to respect each country's sovereignty and to ensure Ethiopia's access to the sea.
“We discussed further strengthening Somalia–Ethiopia bilateral relations, enhancing cooperation on security and regional stability grounded in mutual respect, good neighbourliness and our shared interests in the Horn of Africa,” Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said on Friday after his visit to Ethiopia.
His Ethiopian counterpart said the talks were a continuation of discussions held over the past year and building on the progress made in strengthening our bilateral cooperation.
“Our exchange focused on advancing shared priorities and reaffirmed our mutual commitment to deeper partnership, regional stability, and development,” Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said.
The two countries have been normalising relations since the signing of the Ankara Declaration, with Ethiopia naming an ambassador to Somalia in August as part of broader efforts to rebuild trust.