Thursday 26, Dec,2024 {HMC} Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud arrived in Asmara on Wednesday for bilateral talks with Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, marking his fourth visit in six months.
The Eritrean Ministry of Information confirmed that the visit aims to enhance bilateral ties and address regional and international matters of shared importance. President Mohamud was received with a red-carpet reception at Asmara International Airport, underscoring the growing partnership between the two nations.
Somalia’s ties with Eritrea and Egypt have strengthened in response to Ethiopia’s contentious deal with Somaliland, granting Addis Ababa port access in Berbera. Mogadishu condemned the agreement as an infringement on its sovereignty and a step toward Somaliland’s international recognition. Ethiopia, a landlocked nation, defended the deal as vital to its economic interests, further straining relations with Somalia.
Eritrea, which shares a fraught history with Ethiopia, has expressed concerns over Addis Ababa’s ambitions for port access, viewing them as a potential threat to its territorial integrity.
The alliance between Somalia, Eritrea, and Egypt reflects a shifting balance of power in the Horn of Africa. The three nations solidified their partnership during a summit in Asmara last October, agreeing to enhance security cooperation and counter-terrorism efforts. Analysts view the alliance as a counterweight to Ethiopia’s regional dominance, with Eritrea expressing concerns over Addis Ababa’s maritime aspirations as a potential threat to its territorial integrity.
In October, Somalia, Eritrea, and Egypt solidified a tripartite agreement aimed at bolstering security cooperation and countering perceived Ethiopian provocations.
Analysts view the burgeoning alliance between Somalia, Eritrea, and Egypt as a counterweight to Ethiopia’s regional dominance. Ethiopia’s maritime aspirations, coupled with its contentious dam project on the Nile, have strained its relations with Somalia and Egypt, both of whom see Addis Ababa’s actions as destabilizing.
Efforts to ease tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia gained traction with Turkey’s mediation of the Ankara Declaration in December 2024. The agreement emphasized Somalia’s territorial sovereignty while granting Ethiopia conditional commercial access to the Somali coastline. Observers hailed the deal as a step toward resolving the Somaliland dispute, but challenges remain as Addis Ababa navigates its relations with Mogadishu.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, instrumental in brokering the agreement, leveraged Turkey’s significant investments in Somalia, including military training programs and humanitarian aid. The declaration also set a timeline for further negotiations, reflecting Turkey’s growing regional influence.
