By As announced by Turkey’s foreign minister Mr. Hakan Fidan at a news conference in Istanbul, The Somali and Ethiopian foreign ministers will meet in Ankara next week to discuss disagreements over a port deal Ethiopia signed with the breakaway region of Somaliland this year.
Turkey is mediating talks between the East African neighbors, whose ties were strained in January when Ethiopia agreed to lease 20km (12 miles) of coastline from Somaliland in exchange for recognition of its independence. Somalia says Somaliland is part of its territory.
The involvement of Turkey as a neutral mediator could help facilitate constructive dialogue and compromise between the parties. Turkey has good relations with both Somalia and Ethiopia and may be able to broker a mutually acceptable agreement.
Opportunities for Success, both countries have incentives to reach a deal that allows for the efficient operation and utilization of the strategically located Berbera port. This could motivate the parties to make the necessary concessions.
The agreement grants Ethiopia a 50-year lease on a naval base with access to Somaliland’s Berbera port. It was signed on January 1 in Addis Ababa by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somaliland leader Muse Bihi Abdi
“Tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia would come to an end with Ethiopia’s access to the seas through Somalia as long as Ethiopia’s recognition of Somalia’s territorial integrity and political sovereignty is secured,” Hakan Fidan said at a news conference in Istanbul on Friday.
As considered opportunity success, reaching an agreement on the Berbera port could contribute to greater stability and economic integration in the Horn of Africa region, which is in the interests of all parties involved.
Challenges to Overcome Falls over The status of Somaliland and its relationship with the Somali federal government remain unresolved as the Somaliland region claims independence and has been seeking international recognition but this has not gone well since 1991 after a civil war erupted in Somalia. This could complicate the negotiations and make it difficult to reach a comprehensive agreement.
As discussed earlier, Somalia and Ethiopia have strong claims and interests over the Berbera port, which they may be reluctant to compromise.
The federal government in Addis Ababa faces domestic political constraints and constituencies that may oppose concessions made in the negotiations.
The long-standing mistrust and tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia could hinder the negotiation process, requiring significant confidence-building measures. Even if Somalia and Ethiopia reach a deal, they will need to coordinate and negotiate with the Somaliland authorities, adding another layer of complexity.
The port of Berbera is located in the self-declared region of Somaliland, which is not recognized as an independent state by the international community or the Somali federal government. This complicates the negotiations, as Somalia may be reluctant to cede control or give Somaliland a direct role in the port’s management.
Any port deal will likely involve discussions around revenue sharing and the degree of control each party will have over the port’s operations and management. Reaching a mutually acceptable agreement on these issues may prove difficult.
The negotiations will need to balance the urgency of reaching an agreement with the time required to address the complex issues at stake and build consensus among all the stakeholders.
