As the December 31 deadline set by the Somali government for the withdrawal of Ethiopian peacekeeping forces nears, Turkey has stepped in to save face the Abiy Ahmed gov’t existing from the controversial MoU he signed with the Somaliland enclave.

Turkey’s intervention, therefore, helped steer this inexperienced Prime Minister toward a more rational stance, compelling him to finally acknowledge what he had resisted all year: respecting Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and revoking any backdoor agreements he made without the approval and consent of the federal government.

This, in itself, is good news for the region as it helps avoid unnecessary conflict.

Yes, Ethiopia needs to diversify its reliance on the ports of Djibouti, but that cannot be achieved through threats and wars.

Ethiopia has what its neighbors need, and its neighbors have what Ethiopia needs. As President Isaias Afwerki of Eritrea often emphasizes, it is complementarity and cooperation that will lift this region out of the cycle of poverty—not muscle-flexing fueled by the empty promises of foreign actors with vested interests in the region.

Ethiopia-Somalia Ankara Declaration:

— Parties to begin technical negotiations with by end of February 2025, conclude them in four months

— Parties affirm respect for Somalia’s territorial integrity, recognize potential benefits Ethiopia may gain from secure access to sea

The million-dollar question is whether the majority of Somalis support this agreement or if the opposition will use it against President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in the upcoming election. Time will tell. [TN]