Today, the talks between Ethiopia and Somalia in Ankara ended without an agreement.
The delegations from both countries did not meet face-to-face because Somalia refused to sit with the other side. A third round of talks is expected to take place in September.
It has also emerged that Djibouti and the United Arab Emirates have significant influence in the Turkish-hosted talks.
The Republic of Djibouti is aligned with Somalia because 90% of Ethiopia’s imports arrive through Djibouti’s port.
The United Arab Emirates is aligned with Ethiopia. Additionally, there is a dispute between DP World and Djibouti regarding the Djibouti port.
There is also a conflict between Somalia and the UAE concerning the UAE’s interests in Somalia’s internal affairs. DP World manages the ports of Berbera and Bosaso, having obtained permission from the Federal Government of Somalia.
Ethiopia wants access to a new port in Somaliland, which is near the Gulf of Aden. Somalia, on the other hand, wants Ethiopia to use the Berbera port, which is managed by the UAE’s DP World. However, Ethiopia is unwilling to be subordinate to DP World.
Reports indicate that Somalia also wants Ethiopia to build a new port in central Somalia. Additionally, Somalia insists that the Somali government should have control over Somali ports and that Ethiopia should withdraw from the memorandum of understanding it signed with the Somaliland administration, which claims to have seceded from Somalia in 1991.
Turkey is adamant about its economic and military interests in the Horn of Africa, a region crucial for global trade.
The Somali government has agreed to allow Ethiopia to use the port of Berbera in northern Somalia. According to reports, during a meeting on August 3rd in Addis Ababa with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan secured Somalia’s agreement for Ethiopia to use the Berbera port.
Reports from Hargeisa indicate that Somaliland’s administration, led by Muse Bihi, faces significant challenges, including upcoming elections in Somaliland and dealing with the Mogadishu administration on the Ethiopian issue.
