Ethiopia , Somalia agrees to end dispute

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Ethiopia and Somalia reached an agreement Wednesday to end diplomatic tensions and to begin talks by February to iron out details over a controversial maritime access deal signed by Ethiopia with the breakaway Somalia region of Somaliland.

The dispute between began January 1 when Somaliland?s president, Muse Bihi Abdi, and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed signed a "historic" memorandum of understanding to lease 20 kilometers of seafront to Ethiopia for 50 years, in return for diplomatic recognition.

The Somali government has rejected the deal, calling it "null and void," and has accused Ethiopia of "blatant violation" of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Following Wednesday?s third round of talks mediated by Turkey?s President Tayyip Recep Erdogan, the president of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, and Ethiopia?s Ahmed have agreed to assure to protect each other?s territorial unity and sovereignty, according to the published agreement.