The Ethiopian prime minister travels to Somalia for discussions regarding the maritime dispute and security issues.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to Mogadishu on Thursday for crucial discussions with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, signifying a significant development in the diplomatic relations between the two nations after months of tension.

President Mohamud received Abiy at Aden Adde International Airport, where Somali authorities enacted enhanced security protocols, including the temporary closure of major roadways and the suspension of airport operations.

The leaders are anticipated to deliberate on security cooperation and economic engagement.

The Somali Minister of Information, Da’uud Aweys Jama, characterized the visit as indicative of enhanced relations between the two neighboring countries, highlighting a transition towards collaboration and economic advancement.

Aweys stated, “This visit exemplifies the rapprochement between Somalia and Ethiopia and denotes a commitment to a trajectory founded on mutual interests.”

Abiy’s visit coincides with Ethiopia’s official incorporation into the African Union’s Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). This week, Somalia and Ethiopia signed a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), legally placing Ethiopian troops operating in Somalia under the authority of the Somali federal government.

Within the SOFA framework, Ethiopian forces will persist in counterterrorism operations against al-Shabaab in collaboration with Somali security forces and the African Union.

The visit signifies the formal closure of a diplomatic breach that occurred in early 2024 when Ethiopia executed a contentious Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Somaliland, a self-proclaimed yet unrecognized secessionist province of Somalia.

Somalia categorically rejected the pact, deeming it a breach of its sovereignty, and tensions intensified as President Mohamud’s administration sought international backing against Ethiopia’s actions. Ethiopia later backtracked, reinforcing its acknowledgment of Somalia’s territorial sovereignty, and relations between the two states have since been on the mend.