The third phase of negotiations between Somalia and Ethiopia, mediated by Turkey, is expected to resume in Ankara on September 17th.
According to diplomatic sources, the foreign ministers of Somalia and Ethiopia are expected to travel to Ankara soon, where indirect negotiations between the two countries will take place.
The Turkish government has already mediated two previous rounds of indirect negotiations between the two nations in Ankara, but those rounds ended without any results.
Somalia has insisted that Ethiopia first withdraw from its maritime agreement with Somaliland so that the negotiations can succeed. At the same time, Ethiopia has demanded clarity on what it would receive in return for withdrawing from the contract.
Tensions between the two countries have escalated since Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed signed the maritime agreement with Somaliland President Muse Bihi, which the Somali government vehemently opposed.
Meanwhile, Somalia has signed a military cooperation agreement with Egypt, and it is reported that Egyptian forces will be deployed to Somalia as part of the African Union peacekeeping mission, which has further angered Ethiopia.