Turkiye says Ethiopia and Somalia made 'notable progress' in dispute settlement talks

Ankara, Turkiye:Ethiopia and Somalia have made notable progress in efforts to settle a dispute sparked by Ethiopia s deal with the breakaway region...

Ankara, Turkiye: Ethiopia and Somalia have made "notable progress” in efforts to settle a dispute sparked by Ethiopia’s deal with the breakaway region of Somaliland, Turkiye’s foreign minister said Tuesday.

Hakan Fidan made the comments at the end of a second round of talks between the foreign ministers of Somalia and Ethiopia that are being mediated by Turkiye's.

"I am pleased to announce that the number and extent of issues we discussed, has increased significantly, compared to the first round. We were able to focus on the details and technicalities of concrete steps,” Fidan said in a video message recorded at his ministry. "We believe that a collaborative and constructive solution is within reach.”

Flanked by his counterparts from Ethiopia and Somalia, Fidan added that a third round of talks would be held on Sept. 17.

Tensions between the two African countries have simmered since Ethiopia signed a memorandum of understanding with Somaliland in January, which Somalia denounced as infringing upon its sovereignty and territorial integrity.