Somali Leader Hassan Sheikh to Travel to Addis Ababa for Discussions on Somalia-Ethiopia Ties
Mogadishu (AX) – Rolling into Ethiopia’s bustling capital this Saturday, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is set for some weighty tête-à-têtes in Addis Ababa. This trip is all about giving a jolt of energy to the often rocky friendship between these East African neighbors.
When President Mohamud and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sit down, they ain’t just gonna chat about the weather. Their main agenda? Breathing new life into the Ankara Agreement and hashing out Ethiopia’s hand in Somalia’s latest peacekeeping mission. They’ve got their sights set on tightening the screws on issues like regional peace, beefing up economic partnerships, and getting their political ducks in a row.
By the way, it’s been a hot minute since President Mohamud last made tracks to Addis, specifically back on February 17, 2023. Back then, he was there for the 37th African Union Summit, but the drama wasn’t just the speeches. Rumors flew from Somali officials about some funny business, with whispers about Ethiopian security trying to cramp his style, pushing him to trail along with Djibouti’s president to slip out of his hotel safely.
The storyline between these two Horn of Africa countries has had its spicy moments, especially after Ethiopia inked a pact in January with North Western State of Somalia, a self-proclaimed autonomous region of Somalia. They’re talking prime real estate here—a stash of coastline for Ethiopia’s shiny new port and military base, just for the price of patting North Western State of Somalia on the back with a diplomatic nod.
However, things weren’t just left to simmer on high. In came the peacemakers: turkey and its Ankara Declaration in December 2024, which tossed a lifeline to the frazzled nations. This agreement stood firm behind Somalia’s borders but let Ethiopia dip its toes into Somali ports, trying to strike a deal between feeding Ethiopia’s growing fiscal appetite and keeping Somalia’s sovereignty intact.
President Hassan Sheikh’s imminent trip puts a big ol’ spotlight on some unfinished business and signals a move toward tightening those strained ties. The outcomes from these palaver sessions could be the seed for not just Somalia-Ethiopia relations but also greater peace and progress in the region.
This is more than merely a diplomatic visit—it’s a potential game-changer for the Horn of Africa.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
