African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat on Thursday welcomed a recent agreement signed between leaders of Ethiopia and Somalia over a dispute concerning Somaliland, a region of Somalia.
ADDIS ABABA, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat on Thursday welcomed a recent agreement signed between the leaders of Ethiopia and Somalia over a dispute concerning Somaliland, a region of Somalia.
Ethiopia and Somalia reached the agreement on Wednesday after Turkish-mediated negotiations in Ankara, marking a breakthrough in resolving misunderstandings between the two nations.
Tensions had been escalating between Ethiopia and Somalia after Ethiopia and Somaliland reportedly signed an agreement earlier this year allowing Ethiopia access to the Red Sea in exchange for its recognition of Somaliland as an independent state. Somalia said the agreement is legally invalid.
"The chairperson welcomes the communique signed by Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Dec. 11 in Ankara, under the auspices of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan," the AU said in a statement issued on Thursday.
The AU chief praised "this important act of high responsibility on the part of the leaders of Somalia and Ethiopia," urging them to implement the agreed-upon measures without delay.
Following the agreement, Abiy and Mohamud issued a joint statement emphasizing cooperation and dialogue between the two countries.
Both leaders reaffirmed their respect for and commitment to one another's sovereignty, unity, independence, and territorial integrity and agreed to work together to finalize arrangements that will allow Ethiopia to enjoy access to and from the sea. ■
