Talaado 13 August 2024 {HMC} High-level negotiations between Somalia and Ethiopia have come to a standstill in Ankara, as Somali officials refuse to move forward until Ethiopia publicly renounces a controversial naval base agreement with Somaliland. The controversial Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), signed in January 2024, grants Ethiopia access to Somaliland’s coastline, a move that Somalia considers illegal and a direct threat to its sovereignty.
Somalia’s delegation has taken a hard line, reiterating that no further discussions can take place until Ethiopia formally retracts the MOU. This position reflects Somalia’s longstanding concerns that the naval base could embolden Somaliland’s quest for independence, which Somalia has opposed since the region declared independence in 1991.
“There’s no room for negotiation on this,” said a source close to the talks, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the discussions.
Politicians, including former Somali Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, have demanded that Somalia reject any deal with Ethiopia that would allow the establishment of a military base in Somali waters.
Ethiopian negotiators, however, argue that the naval base plan aligns with an agreement made in June 2018 between Ethiopia and Somalia. The deal was part of a regional cooperation strategy that involved joint investments in four seaports along the Red Sea. However, the details and specifics of which ports were to be developed were kept a secret.
The 2018 deal, signed by then-Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, was meant to foster economic integration and regional stability. Ethiopian officials maintain that the naval base is a continuation of these cooperative efforts, complicating the current negotiations.
As the mediator in these talks, Turkey has been working to bridge the gap between the two sides. Like the first round of talks, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has held separate meetings with both delegations, but progress has been elusive. The atmosphere remains tense, and both sides are holding firm to their positions, according to a Turkish Foreign Ministry official who spoke anonymously.
The deadlock is the latest chapter in Ethiopia and Somalia’s long and complicated relationship. The Red Sea coastline, a strategically vital region, has become a focal point in their ongoing struggle for influence. Ethiopia, landlocked and with a population of over 100 million, views access to the sea as critical to its national interests.
For Somalia, the naval base represents more than just a security concern—it’s a matter of national pride and territorial integrity. Should the talks collapse, the potential for increased tensions could have major ramifications for the Horn of Africa, a region already marked by geopolitical rivalries involving regional powers like the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.
With negotiations at a standstill, it remains unclear whether a resolution can be reached although Turkish officials believe there’s potential progress to be made. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has previously played a key role in mediating regional disputes, may be called upon to intervene if the deadlock continues.
The talks are expected to continue throughout Tuesday.
