Somalia's breakaway region of Somaliland says its deal to give Ethiopia access to the Red Sea in exchange for recognition as an independent state still stands.

Ethiopia and Somalia have agreed to end their bitter dispute over Addis Ababa's plans to build a port in the breakaway republic of Somaliland following talks in Turkey. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed the "historic agreement", which he said would eventually ensure landlocked Ethiopia's access to the sea.

The leaders of Ethiopia and Somalia have agreed to hold “technical talks” to resolve a dispute sparked by Ethiopia’s deal with Somalia's breakaway region of Somaliland.

Somalia and Ethiopia said they would work together to resolve a dispute over Addis Ababa's plan to build a port in the breakaway region of Somaliland, which had drawn in regional powers and threatened to further destabilise the Horn of Africa.

Ethiopia has secured access to the sea through Somali territory, while Somalia's sovereignty and territorial integrity were affirmed under a landmark agreement reached between the two countries in the Turkish capital on Thursday.

Somalia and Ethiopia announced plans to initiate technical negotiations by the end of February next year, with a commitment to conclude them within four months. ・Somalia and Ethiopia are working to resolve tensions over the development of a port in Somaliland.