Turkey has mediated a deal granting Ethiopia access to the Red Sea and Indian Ocean, resolving a dispute with Somalia while preventing the legitimization of Somaliland’s independence. The agreement nullifies a previous deal between Ethiopia and Somaliland that posed challenges to Somalia’s sovereignty.
Turkey has successfully brokered a significant agreement between Ethiopia and Somalia, facilitating Ethiopia’s access to the Red Sea and Indian Ocean, thus resolving a protracted dispute that posed risks of regional conflict. This new arrangement, known as the “Ankara Declaration,” provides Ethiopia with alternative maritime access while upholding the sovereignty of Somalia, refraining from legitimizing Somaliland’s bid for independence. Notably, this agreement nullifies a previous arrangement between Ethiopia and Somaliland that would have granted Ethiopia a naval base in exchange for recognizing Somaliland’s independence.
The agreement’s implications for Somaliland, which has sought independence from Somalia since 1991, are indeed challenging. Somaliland had proposed to Ethiopia access to the Red Sea in return for independence recognition, an offer officially recorded in a January 2024 memorandum of understanding (MOU). However, this proposal has become tenuous following Somalia’s opposition, which claimed that the arrangement infringed on its sovereignty. This past April, the Somali government expelled the Ethiopian ambassador and its African Union peacekeepers, further complicating relations amidst these developments. Recognizing the escalated tensions, Turkey intervened, facilitating a deal that grants Ethiopia access to vital maritime routes while preventing the validation of Somaliland’s independence claims.
The geopolitical landscape in the Horn of Africa has been historically complex, particularly concerning the relationships between Somalia, Ethiopia, and the breakaway region of Somaliland. Somaliland has been in pursuit of international recognition since its declaration of independence in 1991, yet this status remains largely unrecognized. Concurrently, Ethiopia relies on access to maritime routes for trade and energy needs, making collaboration with both Somalia and Somaliland critical to its regional strategy. The recent tensions exacerbated by conflicts elsewhere, notably the Israel-Gaza situation, have highlighted the fragile balance within the region, underscoring the necessity for diplomatic interventions like those by Turkey.
The successful mediation by Turkey to secure Ethiopia’s access to critical maritime routes marks a significant shift in the regional dynamics of the Horn of Africa. Although this agreement aims to promote stability by protecting Somalia’s territorial integrity, it inevitably raises questions about the future of Somaliland and its aspirations for independence. Given the complexity of regional relationships, this development illustrates the delicate nature of diplomacy in a historically contentious environment.
Original Source: oilprice.com
