12/12/2024 (Agence Europe) – On Thursday 12 December, the European Union welcomed the declaration agreed the previous day in Ankara between the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Federal Republic of Somalia. “This agreement reflects the importance of mutual respect and dialogue in de-escalating tensions in the Horn of Africa”, said a spokesman for the European External Action Service, acknowledging Turkey’s “important role” as mediator. The agreement provides for the start of “talks” aimed at bringing about a lasting end to the tensions generated by the signing last January of a memorandum of understanding between Ethiopia and the separatist Somali region of ‘Somaliland’, whose self-proclaimed independence in 1991 has not been recognised by the EU. The memorandum envisaged granting Ethiopia access to the Red Sea in return for formal recognition of the ‘Republic of Somaliland’ (see EUROPE 13320/20). (BD)