MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s government is set to hold talks with Ethiopia in meetings expected to be hosted by Turkey amid rising tensions over Addis Ababa’s sea access deal with the break-away region of Somaliland, Caasimada Online news website reported on Saturday.
Somali government is reported to have pivoted its stance in talks with Ethiopia, reversing its previous insistence that negotiations would only commence if Addis Ababa canceled its memorandum of understanding with Somaliland.
The shift could also be noticed in a speech delivered by Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud last week in which he stated that his government is not willing to deny Ethiopia an access to the sea.
A delegation led by Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi is expected to represent the Somali government in the upcoming talks set to begin Ankara.
Somali authorities are planning to grant Ethiopia access to the port of Hobyo in Galmudug state if Ethiopia retracts its agreement with Somaliland, though Addis Ababa has recently denied rumors circulating on social media that it intends to cancel the deal.
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