Ankara (Isbahaysi) – The Ethiopian government is making relentless diplomatic efforts in its contest with Somalia, convincing President Hassan Sheikh to come to the negotiation table, despite Ethiopia not officially withdrawing from its agreement with Hargeisa.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed achieved a positive outcome from his diplomatic maneuvering with Turkey, following the dispatch of a delegation on May 8th by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The delegation included former Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome Wirtu, who has also served as an ambassador to several countries including Turkey, Japan, China, and Azerbaijan, and Ethiopian Foreign Minister Taye Atske Selassie.
The Turkish President, who received the Ethiopian delegation, discussed the mediation issue, emphasizing that he would send a delegation to Somalia to convey Ethiopia’s message to President Hassan Sheikh.
Isbahaysi, having obtained information from sources close to Villa Somalia, learned that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud received a Turkish envoy carrying the mediation message, which was warmly welcomed by the President.
The Turkish delegation returned with an unexpected result, indicating Villa Somalia’s strong interest in relations with Ethiopia, but President Hassan Sheikh’s condition was that Turkey should lead the negotiations between the two sides.
Turkey, a friend to both nations, accepted the mediation role, and preparations are now underway for secret meetings to be held between the two governments in Turkey.
As is widely known, the Federal Government of Somalia entered into a defense agreement with Turkey in February of this year, under which Turkey would protect Somalia’s seas and assist in rebuilding the Somali Navy.
During this period, Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been actively promoting the agreement it made with Somaliland, with its key embassies around the world clearly marketing the agreement, which has been dismissed by the Somali people and government.
Ethiopia’s diplomatic activity is contrasted by the Somali Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ inactivity in defending this crucial issue, as the newly appointed minister, who was previously from the Ministry of Interior, remains focused on his former domestic duties.
