JidbaaleSomali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud arrived in Addis Ababa on Saturday for an official visit aimed at enhancing bilateral ties between Somalia and Ethiopia.
The Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed, received President Mohamud and his team at Bole International Airport. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed expressed a cordial welcome to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of the Federal Republic of Somalia during his official visit to Ethiopia.
The two presidents will address critical matters, including the execution of the Ankara Agreement and Ethiopia’s involvement in the new peacekeeping force in Somalia. The discussions will also focus on regional stability, economic partnership, and political alignment to strengthen cooperation among the surrounding countries.
Tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia have persisted since Ethiopia’s contentious agreement in January with Somaliland, Somalia’s secessionist territory. The accord permitted Ethiopia to lease a segment of Somaliland’s coastline for a port and military installation in return for diplomatic recognition, a decision that incensed Mogadishu.
Diplomatic initiatives, notably Turkey’s Ankara Declaration in December 2024, have been pivotal in mitigating the situation. The statement recognized Somalia’s territorial integrity while allowing Ethiopia conditional access to Somali ports, reconciling Ethiopia’s economic aspirations with Somalia’s sovereignty.
President Mohamud’s trips emphasize the need of resolving remaining difficulties while striving to cement bilateral relations. The results of the discussions may reshape Somalia-Ethiopia ties and significantly impact regional peace and prosperity in the Horn of Africa.
