Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia leaders hold trilateral summit on regional security and economic cooperation

Djibouti (AX) — The presidents of Djibouti and Somalia and the prime minister of Ethiopia met Wednesday in Djibouti City for a high-level trilateral summit, underscoring a push for tighter regional security coordination, deeper economic integration and united diplomacy across the Horn of Africa.

Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh hosted Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud for talks at his private residence in Haramuus during an iftar dinner. Officials said the leaders reviewed the overall situation in the Horn, centering on peace and security, economic cooperation and steps to strengthen regional integration amid shared geopolitical pressures.

The summit also addressed the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and its potential economic repercussions for the Horn of Africa, according to participants. With maritime trade and cross-border commerce tightly interlinked, the leaders emphasized consultation and coordination to navigate spillover risks and preserve stability.

At the conclusion of their talks, the three agreed to intensify cooperation on the basis of mutual interests, with particular focus on security coordination, economic development and integration initiatives. The emphasis reflects a broader effort to align national policies and regional mechanisms as the Horn contends with political frictions and economic headwinds.

The meeting came at a sensitive moment. Ethiopia has been actively pursuing access to a sea route, a long-running strategic priority now at the forefront of its foreign policy. Djibouti, whose ports are vital to Ethiopia’s commerce, has sought to ease tensions between Addis Ababa and Mogadishu, particularly over political issues linked to North Western State of Somalia. The trilateral format offered a discreet venue to manage those strains while advancing practical cooperation.

Wednesday’s exchange formed part of a series of high-level consultations aimed at defining a new strategic direction for collaboration in the Horn of Africa, officials said.

Senior officials from all three governments took part in the discussions:

• Ethiopia: Deputy Prime Minister Aden Farah; Finance Minister Ahmed Shide; Minister of Peace Mohammed Edris; National Security Chief Aden Radwan Hussein; State Minister for Foreign Affairs Berhanu Tsegaye; Chief of Cabinet Betre Mengistu; Ambassador to Djibouti Legesse Tulu Adera.
• Somalia: Defense Minister Ahmed Moalim Faqi; Ports Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur; Aviation Minister Mohamed Farah Nur; Public Works Minister Ayoub Ismail Yusuf; State Minister for Security Mohamed Ali Haga.
• Djibouti: Minister of Economy and Finance Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh; Foreign Minister Abdoulkader Houssein Omar; Defense Minister Hassan Omar Mohamed; National Security Chief Hassan Said Kaireh; Ambassador to Ethiopia Abdi Mahamoud Aybeh.

While no detailed roadmap was announced, the leaders signaled an intent to translate political alignment into practical steps on shared security, trade facilitation and infrastructure links. With the Horn’s economies tightly connected and regional risks acute, the commitment to regular consultation suggests the format will remain a key channel to manage disputes and advance integration.

By Ali Musa

Axadle Times international–Monitoring.