Saturday 11,Jan,2025 {HMC} Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud arrived in Addis Ababa on Saturday for an official visit aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between Somalia and Ethiopia.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed welcomed President Mohamud and his delegation at Bole International Airport. “I warmly welcome President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, on his working visit to Ethiopia,” Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said.
The two leaders are set to discuss key issues, including the implementation of the Ankara Agreement and Ethiopia’s participation in the new peacekeeping mission in Somalia. The talks will also cover regional stability, economic cooperation, and political alignment to enhance collaboration between the neighboring nations.
Tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia have simmered since Ethiopia’s controversial deal in January with Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland. The agreement allowed Ethiopia to lease a portion of Somaliland’s coastline for a port and military base in exchange for diplomatic recognition, a move that angered Mogadishu.
Diplomatic efforts, particularly Turkey’s Ankara Declaration in December 2024, have played a crucial role in de-escalating the situation. The declaration reaffirmed Somalia’s territorial integrity while granting Ethiopia conditional access to Somali ports, balancing Ethiopia’s economic ambitions with Somalia’s sovereignty.
President Mohamud’s visit highlights the urgency of addressing lingering issues while seeking to solidify bilateral ties. The outcome of these talks could redefine Somalia-Ethiopia relations and have far-reaching implications for regional peace and development in the Horn of Africa.
SOURCE HIIRAAN ONLINE
