Various countries welcome the Ankara Declaration by Ethiopia and Somalia
Addis Ababa, December 12, 2024 (FMC) — The United Nations, the United States, the UK, Germany, Qatar, UAE and other countries have welcomed the December 11 Declaration between Ethiopia and Somalia reaffirming each country’s sovereignty, unity, independence, and territorial integrity and advancing cooperation on shared interests.
The “Ankara Declaration” was signed by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali of Ethiopia and President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia on December 11, 2024 in Ankara, under the auspices of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of the Republic of Turkiye.
In light of this development, several partners, including the European Union (EU), IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development), and the African Union Commission (AUC), have welcomed the agreement signed between the two nations.
The countries, in their respective statements, have also acknowledged the role of Türkiye in facilitating the negotiations.
“We look forward to technical negotiations to permit Ethiopia to enjoy reliable, secure, and sustainable access to the sea for mutual economic benefit while respecting Somalia’s territorial integrity,” says a statement the US Department of State.
“Ongoing dialogue and engagement are essential for a stable and prosperous future for Ethiopia and Somalia. We encourage Ethiopia and Somalia to intensify their cooperation on mutual security interests, particularly the fight against al-Shabaab, and look forward to continuing our close bilateral cooperation with both nations.”