ISTANBUL: Horn of Africa rivals Somalia and Ethiopia will start a new series of talks in Ankara on Monday to ease tension, Turkiye’s Foreign Ministry said.
The ministry said in a statement that talks scheduled to start on Sept. 2 had been brought forward.
The talks aim to find a way to give Ethiopia access to international waters through Somalia without upsetting its territorial sovereignty.
Since Eritrea’s secession in 1991, Ethiopia has been the most populous country in the world without direct access to the sea.
Foreign ministers from the neighbors first met in Ankara on July 1, with Turkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan acting as mediator.
Fidan went to Ethiopia on Aug. 3 to meet its leaders.
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The talks aim to find a way to give Ethiopia access to international waters through Somalia without upsetting its territorial sovereignty.
The ministry said there have since been contacts with Somalia “at the highest level.”
It was not immediately known who would take part in Monday’s talks on what the Turkish ministry called “the needs, worries, and approaches of the two countries.”
Ethiopia made an accord in January with Somaliland, unilaterally breaking away from Somalia.
Ethiopia gained access to the sea but recognized the territory’s independence, setting off a new crisis with its neighbor.
The two countries, which have fought two wars in the past century, agreed in March to resolve their quarrel.
However, “indirect negotiations” have not produced a result, the Turkish ministry said, acknowledging “increasing tensions in the region.”
Turkiye said it had secured support from countries in the region for its mediation efforts.
