UPDATE - Türkiye voices concern over agreement between Ethiopia, Somalia’s breakaway region

UPDATES WITH STATEMENT FROM SOMALI OFFICIAL; REVISES DECK

By Esra Tekin and Dilara Hamit

ISTANBUL/ Türkiye on Thursday expressed concern over the Memorandum of Understanding on Partnership and Cooperation signed by Ethiopia and Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland.

“We note with concern the Memorandum of Understanding for Partnership and Cooperation, which was signed between Ethiopia and Somaliland in Addis Ababa on January 1, 2024, without the knowledge and consent of the Government of Somalia,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Oncu Keceli said in a statement.

"We reaffirm our commitment to the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia. We emphasize that this position is also a requirement of the international law,” said Keceli said.

He said that Türkiye wishes the settlement of disputes between Somalia and Somaliland through direct negotiations, reiterating Ankara’s support for initiatives in this regard.

Farhan Jimale, spokesperson and director of Communications & Public Relations for the Somali government, welcomed the Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman’s statement.

"Thank you, brotherly Türkiye, for your steadfast solidarity with our government. We appreciate your support and commitment to the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of #Somalia, in line with international law, he said on X.

On Monday, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi signed a MoU in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on granting Ethiopia access to the Red Sea through the port of Berbera in Somaliland.

Somalia rejected the move, calling it a threat to good neighborliness and a violation of its sovereignty.

Abiy’s office hailed the pact as “historic,” saying it is “intended to serve as a framework for the multisectoral partnership between the two sides.”

In 1991, Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia, leading to the establishment of two separate nations. The separation resulted in Ethiopia losing direct access to the Red Sea and key ports.