MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Indirect talks between Somalia and Ethiopia, which kicked off in Turkey on Monday, have hit a deadlock after Addis Ababa rejected canceling its MoU with the break-away region of Somaliland.
The Turkish-brokered talks were aimed at finding a way out of months-long standoff between the two countries over an agreement that Addis Ababa had signed in January with the break-away region of Somaliland to gain access to a leased parcel of land along the Red Sea. But Mogadishu has since accused Addis Ababa of violating its sovereignty, calling the deal “illegal” and insisted that there would be no room for mediation unless Ethiopia canceled the MoU.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has been holding separate meetings with his Somali and Ethiopian counterparts since Monday, but none of the two sides has so far agreed to compromise, triggering fears over another breakdown of the negotiations.
On Sunday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held separate phone conversations with Somali and Ethiopian leaders in which he asked both sides to negotiate in good faith.
The first round of Turkish-mediated talks between Mogadishu and Addis Ababa, which commenced in Ankara in July, broke down after both governments insisted on their initial positions.
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