Turkey has expressed its strong disapproval of the agreement signed by Ethiopia and Somaliland on January 1, 2024, which it considers as an infringement on the rights and interests of the Somali people.
The agreement, titled Memorandum of Understanding for Partnership and Cooperation, was announced by the Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi in Addis Ababa, without consulting or informing the Federal Government of Somalia.
In a statement issued on January 4, 2024, the Spokesperson of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Öncü Keçeli, said that Turkey was deeply concerned by this unilateral move, which he said was contrary to the international law and the principles of good neighborliness.
“Turkey reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia. We emphasize that this position is also a requirement of the international law,” Mr. Keçeli said.
He added that Turkey hoped for a peaceful and lasting resolution of the disputes between Somalia and Somaliland through direct dialogue and negotiations among the Somali parties, and reiterated Turkey’s support for any constructive efforts in this direction.
