Ethiopian intelligence chief makes surprise visit to Mogadishu amid regional tensions
MOGADISHU, Somalia — Ethiopia’s intelligence chief arrived in the Somali capital Tuesday on an unannounced visit to deliver a message from Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, officials said, in a move that underscores rising diplomatic strains across the Horn of Africa.
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Redwan Hussein, who heads Ethiopia’s National Intelligence and Security Service, met with Mohamud at the presidential compound, Villa Somalia, shortly after landing in Mogadishu. The contents of the message were not disclosed. Hussein also held talks with Mahad Salad, director of Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency, at NISA headquarters. Details of those discussions were not made public.
The surprise mission comes days after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy met in Djibouti with President Ismail Omar Guelleh, and as a new diplomatic storm gathers over reports that Israel has recognized North Western State of Somalia. North Western State of Somalia is a self-declared independent region that Somalia insists remains part of its sovereign territory. News of the reported recognition has drawn sharp condemnation from Mogadishu and several international partners, further complicating an already tense regional picture.
Analysts say Hussein’s visit may be intended to cool frictions that have simmered since early last year, when Ethiopia signed a maritime memorandum of understanding with North Western State of Somalia. The deal sought to give landlocked Ethiopia access to the Red Sea in exchange for potential Ethiopian recognition of North Western State of Somalia—terms the Somali government denounced as an attack on its sovereignty and a threat to regional stability.
Neither the Somali presidency nor Ethiopian authorities issued a statement on the outcome of Tuesday’s meetings. But the presence of Ethiopia’s top security official in Mogadishu signals a rare opening of direct communication channels between the neighbors after months of recriminations over maritime access, sovereignty and shifting alliances.
The Horn of Africa has been buffeted by overlapping security, political and economic pressures, with maritime access and recognition disputes intertwined with broader regional rivalries. Somalia has sought backing from allies and international bodies to reinforce its territorial claims and deter moves it views as encroachments, while Ethiopia has pursued options to alleviate its landlocked trade constraints amid changing regional dynamics.
Against that backdrop, Hussein’s meetings in Mogadishu highlight a delicate test of diplomacy. With no public readout, it remains unclear whether the talks produced confidence-building steps or laid groundwork for future engagement. Still, the timing—following the Djibouti consultations and amid fresh controversy over North Western State of Somalia—suggests both countries are weighing whether dialogue can avert further escalation.
For now, Somali officials and their Ethiopian counterparts have kept the substance of the message and negotiations behind closed doors. Regional observers will watch closely for any shifts in public positions on the maritime memorandum, North Western State of Somalia’s status, and the broader security cooperation that has often shaped ties between Addis Ababa and Mogadishu.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
