A breakthrough deal between Ethiopia and Somalia aimed at ending tensions that sparked fears of conflict in the restive Horn of Africa was hailed on Thursday as an "important step" by a regional bloc.

Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has welcomed the peace deal reached on Wednesday in Ankara, Türkiye between Ethiopia and Somalia. The Executive Secretary of IGAD, Workneh Gebeyehu has commended the landmark Ankara Agreement reached between the two East African nations.

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was heading to Ankara, Turkey, to attend the third round of talks aimed at defusing tensions with Ethiopia, the state news agency reported on Tuesday, in a row that threatens to destabilise the region.

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,

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.

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.