Mogadishu(Mogadishu24)-Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is set to travel to Ankara following an invitation from Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who is seeking to mediate talks between Somalia and Ethiopia.

The mediation efforts come amid ongoing tensions that began on January 1, 2024, when Ethiopia signed a controversial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the self-declared Republic of Somaliland.

The agreement, seen as a step toward Ethiopian recognition of Somaliland in exchange for access to ports, has been strongly opposed by Somalia, which considers it a violation of its sovereignty.

President Hassan Sheikh’s upcoming visit to Ankara comes as a surprise, as the Somali government had previously insisted on nullification of the MoU as a precondition for engaging in talks with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

Türkiye’s mediation efforts have faced setbacks, with previous rounds of talks between Somalia and Ethiopia failing twice, and the third round delayed for unspecified reasons.

Erdoğan’s latest initiative signals a renewed attempt to bring the leaders together to resolve the diplomatic crisis and de-escalate tensions.

Officials from the Somali government confirmed the president’s trip, underscoring that Somalia remains firm on its stance regarding Ethiopian interference in its territorial integrity.

The international community will closely watch the Ankara talks as Türkiye continues to play a pivotal role in fostering regional stability in the Horn of Africa.

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