ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud met Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Friday in Addis Ababa for a one-day working visit, with both leaders discussing ways to deepen bilateral relations and regional cooperation centered on trade, security and regional stability in the Horn of Africa.
Abiy described the talks on his official Facebook page as “productive discussions, continuing the bilateral engagements we have been working on over the past year,” signaling continuity in the two neighbors’ diplomatic outreach and coordination.
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According to officials, the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to advancing shared priorities, strengthening strategic cooperation, and promoting stability and development. The discussions echoed an earlier engagement in Mogadishu between Somalia’s Foreign Minister Abdisalam Abdi Ali and Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Somalia, Suleiman Dedefo, where both sides focused on trade, investment and economic development, alongside joint efforts to maintain peace and security.
The Addis Ababa meeting underscored a coordinated approach to persistent regional challenges that impact both countries and the wider Horn of Africa. In particular, the two sides emphasized the need to align policies and operations to address threats and pressures that do not stop at borders.
- Trade and investment: Expanding commercial links and attracting investment to drive economic development.
- Security cooperation: Coordinating efforts to counter terrorism and bolster peace and stability.
- Cross-border crime: Enhancing joint mechanisms to curb illicit flows and improve border management.
- Political instability: Working in tandem to mitigate destabilizing shocks through sustained diplomatic engagement.
Officials framed the outreach as part of a broader push to consolidate a results-oriented partnership. While no specific agreements were detailed publicly, both governments highlighted the importance of continuity, building on previous exchanges over the past year to translate talks into practical cooperation on the ground.
Friday’s dialogue also placed renewed attention on the economic underpinnings of security. By prioritizing trade and investment alongside counterterrorism and crime prevention, Somalia and Ethiopia signaled that development and stability are mutually reinforcing goals requiring synchronized action.
The one-day visit, and the recent diplomatic activity in Mogadishu, point to a sustained effort by both countries to manage shared risks and unlock regional opportunities. With leaders reiterating their intent to advance joint priorities, the talks add momentum to ongoing engagement aimed at strengthening ties and promoting a steadier regional environment.
Somalia and Ethiopia have repeatedly stressed that only coordinated approaches can address the interconnected challenges facing the Horn of Africa. Friday’s meeting in Addis Ababa, framed by both sides as constructive and forward-looking, reflects that calculus and a commitment to sustained partnership.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
