The leaders of Somalia and Ethiopia have reached an agreement to resolve their conflict.

Axar.az reports that this was stated by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a press conference with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

"Thanks to the trust Somalia and Ethiopia have in our country, we have reached an important stage in the Ankara process, which we initiated about eight months ago. Thus, we have taken the first step towards a new beginning based on peace and cooperation between the two countries. I hope that the agreed joint statement will lay the foundation for cooperation based on respect, economic development, and prosperity in the region," Erdogan said.

It is worth noting that the crisis in relations between Somalia and Ethiopia emerged after Abiy Ahmed and the leader of Somalia's self-declared republic, Somaliland, Muse Bihi Abdi, signed a memorandum of understanding on January 1 to ensure Ethiopia's access to maritime ports.

In exchange for recognition as a sovereign state, Somaliland offered to allow the creation of a naval base on its territory.