Ethiopia-Somalia deal testament to Türkiye's peace diplomacy: Communications director

By Mumin Altas

ANKARA (AA) – Türkiye's Communications Director Fahrettin Altun on Thursday hailed the agreement signed between Ethiopia and Somalia as "a concrete manifestation of Türkiye's peace diplomacy."

In response to questions about the Ankara Declaration signed under Türkiye’s mediation on Wednesday, Altun emphasized the long-term significance of the agreement for African geopolitics and peace.

“This was a conflict rooted in regional geopolitics with inevitable global repercussions. It was a highly costly issue in domestic politics for both sides. By addressing their concerns and bringing them to the negotiating table, this process was realized,” Altun said.

He underlined that the outcome was not achieved overnight but through prolonged efforts by the Foreign Ministry and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s effective diplomatic outreach. “Technical work will follow, and Türkiye will continue to play a facilitating diplomatic role,” he added.

Erdogan hosted his Somalian counterpart Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in Ankara before the three leaders announced the Ankara Declaration.

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," Türkiye's Communications Directorate said.

The two East African countries have been at odds since Ethiopia struck a deal with Somalia's breakaway region of Somaliland on Jan. 1 to use its Red Sea port of Berbera. Türkiye has been working to end tensions between the two countries.

- Syria vital issue for Türkiye

Highlighting the ongoing crisis in Syria, Altun described it as a key topic on the international agenda and a matter "vital" to Türkiye's unity and stability.

“13 years have indeed been a period of atrocities that unfortunately will stand out in the history of the modern world and in the history of humanity," he said.

Amid waves of migration, Altun said Türkiye has been the primary recipient and demonstrated a moral and humanitarian stance.

He also criticized the rise of xenophobic and racist rhetoric in Türkiye, driven by certain political factions aiming to expel refugees. “These structures have really made very serious racism and provocations. Apart from isolated incidents, they really did not find a response in society," he said.

Pointing to a new chapter in Syria, Altun reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to aiding Syria’s recovery and development.

Altun said Türkiye's fundamental approach is preserving Syria's unity, territorial integrity, and a societal structure where all ethnic, religious, and sectarian groups coexist peacefully.

Altun also vowed to prevent terrorist groups from exploiting any power vacuum.

Following the Nov. 27 outbreak of clashes between anti-regime groups and Assad regime forces, Bashar Assad and his family fled to Russia on Sunday after anti-regime groups took control of the capital Damascus, marking the collapse of the Baath Party regime, which had been in power in Syria since 1963.