ADDIS ABABA (SD) – Ethiopia is determined to continue its legal and diplomatic efforts to secure access to the sea, said Nebiyou Tedla, the spokesperson for the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to the Ethiopian News Agency (ENA), Nebiyou thanked Turkey for facilitating the Ankara agreement, which resolved the dispute between Ethiopia and Somalia.

He also confirmed that Ethiopia is actively participating in technical discussions to define the mechanism through which Somalia will grant Ethiopia access to the sea.

Nebiyou stated that the two countries have made “significant progress” in resolving the dispute arising from Ethiopia’s agreement with Somaliland.

The controversial agreement allows Somaliland to lease Ethiopia a 20-kilometer (12-mile) coastal strip for a naval base and port development. In exchange, Ethiopia would recognize Somaliland’s independence. Ethiopia, with a population of over 120 million, is the most populous landlocked country in the world.

However, in the Ankara agreement, Ethiopia officially recognized Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, while Somalia pledged to provide Ethiopia with sea access.

“The two countries agreed to work closely to finalize mutually beneficial trade agreements through bilateral negotiations, including contracts, leases, and other mechanisms that will grant Ethiopia secure and reliable access to the sea under the sovereign administration of the Federal Republic of Somalia,” the Ankara agreement stated.

The agreement also set a timeline to begin technical negotiations by February 2025, facilitated by Turkey, with the aim of completing the deal within four months.