President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said the agreement tabled in parliament is solely about cooperation between Somalia and Turkey on maritime defence and the economy.
“It is not in any way aimed at creating hatred or a feud with another country or government.”
The 10-year deal is intended to strengthen Somalia’s coastline defences and rebuild its navy.
Signed deal
Last month, Ethiopia, which lost access to the Red Sea three decades ago with Eritrea’s independence, signed a memorandum of understanding with Somaliland to lease its coast for 50 years, as it seeks a naval base and commercial port.
Somaliland is a former British protectorate that declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but isn’t recognised by the international community. The country has largely maintained stability as much of Somalia descended into fighting and anarchy.
It remains isolated because of a lack of international recognition, preventing it from benefitting from its position on the Gulf of Aden, one of the most active sea routes in the world, leading to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.
The deal between Turkey and Somalia came on the same day Molly Phee, the top US diplomat for Africa, encouraged the leaders of Somalia and Ethiopia to de-escalate tensions following the controversial maritime agreement between the two countries.
Resolutions
Phee met Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in Addis Ababa and then went to Mogadishu to see President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. She said the US offered to help them “communicate better”.
“The region can ill-afford more conflict,” she told reporters.
“Ethiopia’s desire for increased commercial port access – a valid concern – should be resolved through talks with the federal government of Somalia and neighbouring states, or possibly as part of a regional approach,” she said.
The US, the European Union, the African Union, the Arab League, Egypt and Turkey have already all called for Somalia’s sovereignty to be respected.
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