Doha (Dawan Africa) – Somalia’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ali Mohamed Omar, has officially confirmed that the diplomatic standoff between Somalia and Ethiopia has come to an end. The announcement was made during an exclusive interview with Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, conducted during the minister’s official visit to Doha, Qatar, and published on July 26, 2025.
“The dispute is over. We thank the Turkish government for its role in mediation. The negotiations were successful, and an agreement was reached under which Ethiopia recognized Somalia’s sovereignty and pledged to respect its territorial unity,” Omar stated.
The diplomatic crisis began in early 2024, when Ethiopia signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Somaliland. The deal granted Ethiopia access to a section of Red Sea coastline to establish a commercial port and military base, in exchange for recognizing Somaliland as an independent state. The Federal Government of Somalia strongly rejected the agreement, describing it as a violation of the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
According to Omar, the Turkish government mediated direct talks between Mogadishu and Addis Ababa, culminating in a de-escalation agreement finalized by the end of 2024.
“We reached an agreement based on mutual cooperation as neighboring countries and members of the African Union. Ethiopia is permitted to use Somali ports for commercial purposes if it wishes to do so, but such use must be governed by international law,” the minister explained.
Following the interview, Minister Ali Mohamed Omar continued to Addis Ababa as part of the Somali delegation attending the UN Food Systems Summit Stocktake (UNFSS+4) currently underway in Ethiopia.
