H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of the Republic of Türkiye hosted H.E. Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of the Federal Republic of Somalia and H.E. Abiy Ahmed Ali, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia on 11 December 2024 in Ankara.

The meeting, held in a cordial atmosphere, enabled a frank and constructive discussion.

The Leaders of Somalia and Ethiopia reaffirmed their respect and commitment to one another’s sovereignty, unity, independence and territorial integrity, as well as the principles enshrined in international law, the Charter of the United Nations and the Constitutive Act of the African Union.

They agreed, within a spirit of friendship and mutual respect, to forgo and leave behind differences and contentious issues and forge ahead in a cooperative manner to pursue shared prosperity.

Somalia recognizes the sacrifices of Ethiopian soldiers within the African Union Missions.

They acknowledged the potentially diverse benefits that could be derived from Ethiopia’s assured access to and from the sea, whilst respecting the territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia.

They further agreed to closely work together to finalize mutually advantageous commercial arrangements through bilateral agreements, including contract, lease, and similar modalities, which will allow the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to enjoy reliable, secure and sustainable access to and from the sea, under the sovereign authority of the Federal Republic of Somalia.

They decided to start technical negotiations in good faith for these purposes no later than end of February 2025, with the facilitation of Türkiye, to be concluded and signed in four months.

They welcomed Türkiye’s assistance in the implementation of these commitments and pledged to resolve any differences concerning their interpretation and application through dialogue and in a peaceful manner with Türkiye’s support, as needed.

They expressed their appreciation to the President of the Republic of Türkiye H. E. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for this initiative and his ongoing commitment to the process.