The Turkish capital Ankara will host Monday the second round of talks between Ethiopia and Somalia to reduce tensions between them, following Addis Ababa’s signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Somaliland region to use a seaport, without referring to the federal government in Mogadishu.

Turkish diplomatic sources reported Sunday that the talks, which began with Turkish mediation, are continuing after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sent a letter to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan requesting Ankara’s support regarding the dispute between his country and Somalia.

The second round of talks will focus on reaching a compromise that takes into account the needs, concerns, and approaches of Somalia and Ethiopia.

Relations between the two neighboring countries in the Horn of Africa have been strained since Ethiopia signed a memorandum of understanding with the Somaliland region on Jan. 1, 2023, to use a seaport. However, Somalia denounced and rejected this memorandum, describing it as illega
l, a threat to good neighborliness, a violation of its sovereignty, and a flagrant violation of international laws.

Source: Qatar News Agency