Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud held discussions on security issues on the sidelines of the two-week COP31 summit in Antalya, Turkey.
The two leaders discussed bilateral relations, regional security and Somalia’s security situation, TRT Africa reported.
Turkey, which has sought to balance its relations with the two Horn of Africa neighbors, brokered a rapprochement following their diplomatic fallout over Ethiopia’s 2024 port deal with Somaliland. The agreement severely strained relations between the two countries, with Somalia escalating tensions by expelling the Ethiopian ambassador from Mogadishu. Somalia accused Ethiopia of violating its sovereignty through an agreement with Somaliland, a breakaway region it considers part of its territory. Ethiopia rejected the accusation.
Following a series of negotiations mediated by Turkey, the leaders of the two countries signed the Ankara Declaration on 11 December 2024. Under the agreement, Ethiopia reaffirmed its commitment to respecting Somalia’s territorial integrity, while Somalia agreed to facilitate Ethiopia’s access to the sea through bilateral negotiations.
The latest discussion could be seen as part of efforts to restore security cooperation and coordination against Al-Shabaab to levels that existed before the port dispute.
Following the diplomatic fallout, Somalia strengthened its security partnerships with Egypt and Turkey, allowing both countries to expand their military engagement in its territory. However, effectively combating Al-Shabaab could require Mogadishu to rebuild the security cooperation it previously maintained with Addis Ababa.
The meeting also comes amid a political crisis in Somalia, following a court ruling rejecting the extension of the terms of the president and parliament. The dispute has further exposed tensions between the federal government and regional administrations.
The termination of the UN political mission in Somalia on 31 October 2026 could further complicate the situation. The mission had played a role in supporting political dialogue and mediation between the federal government and regional administrations. Its departure could leave an additional gap in efforts to manage the country’s political divisions.
