Ethiopia has taken a significant step toward mending relations with Somalia by appointing Suleiman Dedefo as its new envoy, presenting his credentials to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud this week. The move signals warming ties after months of tension sparked by Ethiopia’s controversial sea-access deal with breakaway Somaliland, which Somalia rejected as a violation of its sovereignty. The diplomatic crisis eased only after Turkey brokered the Ankara Declaration in December 2024, paving the way for dialogue, including talks on Ethiopia’s quest for sea access. The appointment comes more than one year after Somalia expelled Ethiopia’s previous ambassador in April 2024, underscoring the fragile but improving relationship between the Horn of Africa neighbors.
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