JIGJIGA, Ethiopia — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud held talks Saturday with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Djibouti President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh in Jigjiga, a meeting officials said was aimed at sharpening regional security coordination and expanding economic cooperation across the Horn of Africa.
Mohamud was received at Garaad Wiil-Waal Airport before convening discussions centered on political and security challenges facing the region. Somali officials said the president emphasized diplomacy as the primary tool for reinforcing Somalia’s national unity and sovereignty, framing engagement with neighbors as essential to long-term stability and shared growth.
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Alongside the talks, Mohamud took part in the opening of development projects in Ethiopia’s Somali Region. According to officials, the initiatives are designed to bolster local infrastructure and public services, reflecting a broader push for practical, ground-level investments that can underpin security, improve livelihoods, and stimulate cross-border commerce.
Saturday’s visit underscored Somalia’s intention to deepen cooperation with both Ethiopia and Djibouti, partners central to security, trade and mobility in the Horn of Africa. Officials said the three leaders discussed ways to advance joint initiatives that align regional priorities on stability and economic opportunity, including efforts to improve connectivity and coordination on shared challenges.
The meetings in Jigjiga come as governments across the Horn of Africa seek to consolidate gains against insecurity while accelerating development. Somali officials portrayed the engagements as part of an ongoing diplomatic track that prioritizes collaborative approaches to regional issues, from strengthening institutions and public services to improving conditions for trade and investment.
No further details of the leaders’ talks were immediately disclosed. However, the mix of high-level dialogue and participation in local development activities signaled a pragmatic emphasis on translating political coordination into tangible benefits for communities along the Somali and Ethiopian frontier, officials said.
The Somali presidency framed the visit as a continuation of its wider push to engage neighboring states, stressing the importance of regional relationships to Somalia’s internal cohesion and its long-term economic outlook. Djibouti’s involvement, officials noted, remains a key pillar for efforts to harmonize policy and programs that support stability and growth in the Horn.
Officials said further steps to operationalize joint security and development objectives are expected to follow coordination among the three governments, with a focus on initiatives capable of delivering visible improvements in infrastructure, services and cross-border collaboration.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
