President Abdullah Gül met with President Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia and President Ahmed Mohamed Silanyo of Somaliland at the Çankaya Presidential Palace. The three Presidents, during the meeting, which was held at the invitation of Turkey, accentuated the significance of the “Ankara Communiqué”, which aims at overcoming the existing problems between the Federal Republic of Somalia and the Republic of Somaliland through dialogue

The three Presidents discussed how to overcome the current conflicts between Somalia and Somaliland, reviewed Turkey-Africa relations which have considerably gained momentum in recent years and tackled other regional issues during their talks which Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu also attended.

This meeting between Presidents Gül, Mohamud and Silanyo is regarded as the first step toward the resolution of the existing problems between the two African countries by means of dialogue and good will. As part of this objective, the “Ankara Communiqué”, which was signed by the governments of Somalia and Somaliland, is of great importance. The three Presidents underscored that Turkey’s contribution to this dialogue process between Somalia and Somaliland will continue and they also decided to hold another trilateral meeting in Istanbul within 90 days.

President Mohamud of Somalia, who took office in September, 2012, had paid his first foreign visit to Turkey in December last year.