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Tuesday, August 6, 2024
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdalati, right, and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, left, speak during a news conference at Tahrir Palace in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024. AP
MOGADISHU (HOL) — Turkey and Egypt reaffirmed their shared commitment to preserving Somalia’s territorial integrity during high-level talks in Cairo, stressing the importance of maintaining its sovereignty amid an ongoing regional dispute. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdulati stressed their stance at a press conference following their discussions. “We firmly oppose any actions that undermine the unity and territorial integrity of Somalia,” Abdulati said. Fidan echoed the sentiment, stressing that both countries are committed to protecting Somalia’s borders, according to Turkish news agency Anadolu Agency.
The Somali government expressed its gratitude for Egypt’s unwavering support. “The Somali Foreign Minister thanked the Egyptian government for its unparalleled support and clear position on the freedom and territorial integrity of Somalia,” Somali news agency SONNA said in a statement.
The support comes amid a dispute between Somalia and Ethiopia that began earlier this year when Ethiopia signed a deal to lease a 20-kilometer stretch of coastal territory from Somaliland, a move Somalia considers a violation of its sovereignty. Despite attempts by the African Union and IGAD to mediate, the two sides have yet to reach an effective solution.
In June, Turkey hosted Somali and Ethiopian delegations in Ankara as a start of mediation efforts. The meeting resulted in an agreement to hold further talks in Turkey in September. The international community praised Turkey’s mediation efforts, and Fidan also visited Addis Ababa to discuss the upcoming negotiations.
Turkey’s involvement in Somalia dates back a decade to when Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a historic visit to Mogadishu. The visit highlighted the humanitarian crisis in Somalia and marked the beginning of deepening relations between the two countries. As trade relations expanded, many companies emerged to facilitate the delivery of goods from Turkey to Somalia.
Earlier this year, Turkey and Somalia signed a defense and economic agreement, further advancing bilateral cooperation. In July, the Somali Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy granted Turkish companies the right to drill and extract oil in three designated blocks. Turkey’s energy minister confirmed that exploration work will begin in the coming weeks with naval escorts.
On Monday, Somalia’s Foreign Minister Ahmed Muallem Fiki met with the Dean of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Diplomatic Academy, Mesut Ozcan, in Mogadishu. The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation in diplomatic training and expanding the knowledge base of Somali diplomats. According to a statement from the Somali Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the talks also aimed to strengthen relations between the Turkish Academy and the Somali Diplomatic Academy.
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