Deutsche Welle published on 11 December 2024 an article titled "Ethiopia, Somalia Reach Compromise to End Feud, Turkey Says."
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud met in Ankara on 11 December at the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Ethiopia and Somalia agreed to work closely together on commercial arrangements and bilateral agreements that would ensure Ethiopia's "reliable, safe and sustainable" access to the sea "under the sovereign authority of the Federal Republic of Somalia." Ethiopia and Somalia also agreed to begin technical talks no later than the end of February 2025 and to complete them within four months.
Comment: No direct mention seems to have been made of Ethiopia's earlier MOU with Somaliland for a military base in exchange for diplomatic recognition of Somaliland. Nor was Somaliland involved in the discussions. This appears to be an effort by Ethiopia to resolve serious differences with Somalia while putting aside or ever annulling the MOU with Somaliland.
