On Saturday, Somalian President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud announced that Somalia will not engage in any negotiations with Ethiopia until Ethiopia recognizes Somalia as an independent and sovereign state.
This statement follows the second round of negotiations between Somalia and Ethiopia, which took place earlier in the week in Ankara, initiated by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has confirmed that a third round of talks aimed at reconciling the two nations is scheduled to take place in Ankara on September 17.
“We will not negotiate with Ethiopia on any issue until it recognizes our full sovereignty,” President Mohamud asserted during a press conference on Saturday, as reported by the SONNA news agency. He emphasized that Ethiopia’s refusal to acknowledge Somalia’s sovereignty was a key factor in the recent breakdown of negotiations in Ankara.
Tensions between the two countries escalated after Ethiopia signed a memorandum of understanding with the unrecognized Republic of Somaliland, a region located in the north-western part of Somalia. This agreement, which granted Ethiopia access to the Red Sea, prompted the Somali government to recall its ambassador to Addis Ababa. In response, President Mohamud signed a law nullifying the agreement between Somaliland and Ethiopia.
The situation has garnered international attention, with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) convening an emergency summit in Uganda. The summit called on both Ethiopia and Somalia to de-escalate tensions and return to constructive dialogue.
Somalia has faced ongoing challenges since the collapse of Mohamed Siad Barre’s regime in 1991, which led to the fragmentation of the country. While the federal government, based in Mogadishu, is recognized by the international community as Somalia’s legitimate authority, other regions operate as self-governing entities or unrecognized states. Among these are the Republic of Somaliland in the north and the Puntland region in the east, which declared autonomy in 1998. Despite their self-governing status, the international community continues to regard these regions as part of the Federal Republic of Somalia.
