Türkiye hosted a second round of talks on Monday between east African neighbors Ethiopia and Somalia to try and resolve a dispute over Ethiopia’s deal with the breakaway region of Somaliland, officials said.
Tensions between the two African countries have simmered since Ethiopia signed a memorandum of understanding with Somaliland in January, which Somalia denounced as infringing upon its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Under the deal, Somaliland would lease a 20-kilometer (12-mile) stretch of land along its coastline to Ethiopia to establish a marine force base. With a population estimated at over 120 million, Ethiopia is the most populous landlocked country in the world.
In return, Ethiopia would recognize Somaliland’s independence. Somalia has said it’s prepared to go to war over it as it considers Somaliland part of its territory.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held separate meetings in the Turkish capital of Ankara with his Ethiopian counterpart, Taye Atske Selassie, and Somalia’s Foreign Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, according to the ministry.
The two African delegations did not meet face-to-face but Turkish officials shuttled between the two sides in so-called proximity talks, officials said.