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Analysis

What’s next for Ethiopia-Somalia rift as talks in Turkey end with no breakthrough?

The two countries will meet next month for a third round, the top Turkish diplomat said.

Turkish Foreign Ministry
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan hosts his Ethiopian counterpart, Taye Atske Selassie, and Somalia's Ahmed Muallim Fiqi at the Turkish Foreign Ministry in Ankara in Aug. 13, 2024. — Turkish Foreign Ministry

ANKARA — A second round of Ethiopia and Somalia talks in Ankara ended without a breakthrough on Tuesday. The two sides will next meet in September, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said.

“We will reconvene in Ankara on Sept. 17 for a third round, with the hope of successfully concluding this process,” Fidan said after two days of talks. He described the progress achieved as “notable.”

The remarks came after roughly 36 hours of indirect talks mediated by Turkish officials between Somali Foreign Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi and his Ethiopian counterpart, Taye Atske Selassie, at the Foreign Ministry in Ankara.

“I am pleased to announce that the number and extent of issues we discussed has increased significantly compared to the first round,” Fidan added.

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