MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Turkish-brokered indirect talks between representatives from Somalia and Ethiopia kicked off in Ankara on Monday as Turkey spearheads efforts to end months-long standoff between the two Horn of Africa nations.
The talks are being conducted indirectly, with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan facilitating communication by meeting separately meeting with representatives from both nations to relay messages.
Turkey is working to reconcile the two parties by fostering a mutual understanding and according to its foreign minister, it proposed that Mogadishu grant Ethiopia access to its sea in return for Ethiopian recognition of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The diplomatic tiff between the two countries was sparked by a sea access deal that Addis Ababa had signed in January with the break-away region of Somaliland, triggering the ire of the Somali government which called the move an infringement on the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
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