Due to Ethiopia’s reluctance to relinquish its controversial agreement with Somaliland, Somalia’s Foreign Minister, Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, has ruled out any imminent possibilities for direct negotiations over their maritime dispute with Ethiopia.
The deal, which involves Somaliland leasing 20 kilometers of its coastline to Ethiopia for 50 years, lies at the center of the controversy. Signed in January 2024, the agreement grants Ethiopia, a landlocked country, access to the sea for both naval and commercial purposes. In return, Ethiopia was expected to recognize Somaliland’s independence, though Addis Ababa has yet to make any formal declaration.
“This reckless move undermines Somalia’s territorial integrity, and we see no indication that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is prepared to reverse course or engage in any meaningful dialogue to resolve the issue,” Fiqi said.
Amidst rising tensions, Ethiopian Foreign Minister Taye Atske Selassie and Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi held separate meetings at the Turkish House in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
Turkey has taken on a central role in mediating the conflict between Somalia and Ethiopia, organizing two rounds of indirect negotiations in July and August. However, the third round, which was scheduled for September, has been postponed indefinitely. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan cited the complex nature of the talks as the cause for the delay. However, regional experts suggest that the postponement stems from both nations’ unwillingness to compromise.
The maritime agreement has the potential to escalate into a regional crisis, with neighboring countries aligning either with Addis Ababa or Mogadishu. While Somaliland, which declared independence in 1991 but remains unrecognized internationally, continues to exert control over the contested area, Somalia views the deal as a blatant violation of its sovereignty.
Minister Fiqi highlighted Ethiopia’s contradictory role in Somalia. “It’s a paradox,” he noted. “On one hand, Ethiopian forces claim to be promoting stability in Somalia under the guise of peacekeeping. On the other hand, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government is deliberately undermining our sovereignty through backdoor deals with Somaliland.”
Nevertheless, Fiqi clarified that Somalia has not entirely abandoned diplomacy. He cautiously admitted that the door to negotiations remains slightly open. “We’re still giving Ethiopia a chance to walk back from this reckless agreement,” he stated. “If they nullify it and restore the status quo as of January 1st, there’s room for dialogue.”