Ethiopia

Its recent role in mediating a deal between Ethiopia and Somalia demonstrates Ankara's growing assertiveness on the world stage, and is a clear message to Egypt and even Washington. Mariam Wahba, a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, joins Thanos Davelis to break down whether Turkey has outplayed Egypt and the US in the Horn of Africa. 

Somalia and Ethiopia have reached a deal to end a nearly year-old bitter dispute following hours of Turkish-brokered talks in Ankara, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Wednesday.

Hailing it as a "historic agreement", Erdoğan said he hoped the deal would be "the first step towards a new beginning based on peace and cooperation between Somalia and Ethiopia".

Turkey is among the five most powerful countries operating on the African continent. It is present in regional crises, developing the role of mediator, currently between Ethiopia and Somalia. It sells defense equipment, with an emphasis on drones, and has established military and naval bases.

 Delegations from Ethiopia and Somalia will continue indirect talks on Tuesday under Türkiye's mediation in efforts to resolve a dispute between the two countries over Addis Ababa's deal with the breakaway region of Somaliland.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke over the phone on Sunday with his Somali counterpart Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, discussing tensions between the African country and its neighbor Ethiopia.

The Turkish foreign minister on Saturday met with Ethiopian leaders in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia.

After his arrival in the Horn of Africa country, Hakan Fidan was received by Ethiopia Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali and also met with his counterpart Taye Atske Selassie, said the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will pay a visit to Ethiopia over the weekend as part of Türkiye's mediation between Ethiopia and Somalia, which have been at odds over the former's attempts to have access to the Red Sea through Somaliland, a breakaway region of the latter.

Pedestrians walk on the newly built walkways in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on July 27, 2024.

The IMF executive board approved a new four-year loan program for Ethiopia on Monday worth around $3.4 billion in order to help support its economic reform agenda.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan mediated talks between his Somalian and Ethiopian counterparts on July 1 to alleviate diplomatic tensions between the east African neighbors.

Ethiopia has struck a "historic" agreement to use the main port in Somalia's breakaway region of Somaliland, as the landlocked country seeks more access to sea channels for shipping, officials said Monday.