Somalia and Turkey Sign Defense Pact to Counter Ethiopia-Somaliland Deal

Somalia and Turkey have agreed to boost their defense cooperation and support Somalia’s maritime security, in a move seen as a response to Ethiopia’s controversial sea access deal with the self-declared republic of Somaliland.
The agreement was signed on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, in Mogadishu, by Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Turkey’s Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, who was on a two-day visit to the Horn of Africa nation.
According to a joint statement, the agreement aims to enhance the bilateral relations between the two countries, and to provide Somalia with military assistance, training, and equipment to protect its territorial integrity and sovereignty.
The statement also said the agreement would help Somalia to combat piracy, terrorism, and illegal fishing in its waters, and to safeguard its natural resources and economic interests.
The agreement comes amid rising tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia over the latter’s deal with Somaliland, which was announced on January 1, 2024.
The deal grants Ethiopia the right to use and develop a port in Somaliland’s coastal town of Berbera, in exchange for recognizing Somaliland’s independence. Somalia has strongly condemned the deal, saying it violates its territorial integrity and sovereignty, and threatens its stability and security.
Somalia considers Somaliland as part of its territory, and does not recognize its unilateral declaration of independence in 1991, following a civil war that toppled the former dictator Siad Barre.
Ethiopia, on the other hand, has defended the deal, saying it is in line with its national interest and does not interfere with Somalia’s internal affairs.
Ethiopia, which is landlocked and has a population of over 130 million, has been seeking alternative routes to access the sea, besides its main outlet in neighboring Djibouti.
The deal with Somaliland would give Ethiopia access to the strategic Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, which are vital for its trade and security.
Turkey, which has been a close ally and donor of Somalia since 2011, has expressed its support for Somalia’s position, and has criticized Ethiopia’s deal with Somaliland as a violation of international law and norms.
Turkey has also invested heavily in Somalia’s infrastructure, health, education, and humanitarian sectors, and has trained and equipped thousands of Somali soldiers and police officers.
The defense agreement between Somalia and Turkey is expected to strengthen their strategic partnership, and to counter the influence of Ethiopia and other regional and international actors in the Horn of Africa.
The agreement is also seen as a sign of hope for the people of Somalia, who have suffered from decades of conflict, poverty, and instability, and who aspire for peace, development, and unity.

Source: AP News