We are ready to engage Ethiopia on economic cooperation, says Somalia leader

MOGADISHU, Somalia - In the middle of growing tensions between Addis Ababa and Mogadishu, Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud says his country is ready to engage Ethiopia on matters of economic development and cooperation for the sake of stability.

Ethiopia and Somalia have been at loggerheads over the recent agreement signed by the Horn of Africa nation with the breakaway region of Somaliland, leading to unprecedented fallout between the two countries which share the longest border.

In a phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said whereas the country is ready for cooperation, Ethiopia must act within international law by respecting Somalia’s territorial integrity.

"President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud reiterated Somalia's readiness to engage in economic and development cooperation with Ethiopia, while firmly emphasizing that such partnerships must always respect Somalia's sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, and adhere to international law and norms," Villa Somalia reports.

"He also took the opportunity to thank President Erdoğan for his unwavering efforts in addressing this issue," read the statement published by the presidency on Sunday evening.

Turkey has offered to mediate the deteriorating relationship between Ethiopia and Somalia and the second round of talks are set to commence in Ankara today. The talks come a month before the scheduled date which was set for September.

"President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud emphasized Türkiye's role in promoting dialogue and peaceful resolutions to address the challenges facing the region and to strengthen the bonds of friendship between the two brotherly nations."

Once the agreement is implemented, Ethiopia could get access to 20 kilometres of the Red Sea for the construction of a naval base and port, much to the detriment of Somalia. In return, Ethiopia is planning to recognise Somaliland as a sovereign state.

Tensions between the two countries led to the exit of Ethiopia's ambassador to Somalia, with the country's consulates in Garowe and Hargeisa also closing down. Ethiopia insists it's optimistic that it will get sea access for 120 million people.

GAROWE ONLINE