Somalia could sign a framework agreement to grant Ethiopia access to an Indian Ocean port in June or earlier, Somalia's State Minister for Foreign Affairs Ali Mohamed Omar said on Friday.
"That framework will determine which type of port to offer, the exact area in the Indian Ocean and the overall cost of it," the Somali official told Universal Somali TV in an interview.
The efforts to strengthen Addis Ababa – Mogadishu relations have proven effective, particularly within the framework of political diplomacy, spokesperson for the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry Nebiat Getachew said on Friday.
According to Nebiat, the new trajectory in the relationship between the countries is not only beneficial for bilateral ties but also crucial for regional peace and security.
"The two countries have agreed to collaborate on strategic projects that would mutually benefit the peoples of both nations. He also confirmed that Ethiopia would participate in peacekeeping missions in Somalia. [...] Both countries are committed to playing a significant role in the fight against terrorism, contributing to regional and international peace and security, in line with the agreements they have reached," the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Following Thursday's meeting between Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, they issued a joint communique in which the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation and emphasized building confidence through diplomatic, economic and social cooperation between the two nations.