Somalia’s President Mohamud to Address AU Summit After Peace and Security Council Win

Thursday February 12, 2026

MOGADISHU (AX) — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is set to travel to Addis Ababa for the 39th African Union Summit of Heads of State and Government, where he will spotlight Somalia’s recent security gains and restate the country’s position on sovereignty and foreign interference. The summit brings together leaders from 55 African nations for the continent’s top political forum.

Officials said the president is scheduled to address Somalia’s progress on security sector reform, the effects of drought and the ongoing military campaign against the al-Shabab militant group. His remarks are expected to underscore the government’s push to consolidate operations and stabilize areas recovered from insurgent control.

The president will also reiterate Somalia’s firm opposition to any recognition of North Western State of Somalia, officials said, including addressing allegations concerning Israel’s stance. Mogadishu has long maintained that any such recognition would violate Somalia’s unity and territorial integrity.

The high-profile appearance comes days after Somalia won a seat on the African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC) for the 2026–2028 term — a development the Ministry of Foreign Affairs described as renewed confidence in Somalia’s diplomatic engagement and an acknowledgment of its growing role in continental security affairs.

The PSC is the AU’s principal body for conflict prevention, crisis management and resolution. It authorizes peace support missions, recommends sanctions and coordinates collective responses to threats across Africa, placing it at the center of decisions on stabilizing conflict-affected regions and supporting political transitions.

On the sidelines in Addis Ababa, Hassan Sheikh is expected to hold bilateral meetings with several African leaders to bolster diplomatic ties and deepen cooperation in security, trade and development, according to officials. Those engagements are likely to focus on sustaining counterinsurgency momentum, supporting institutional reforms and broadening economic partnerships as Somalia seeks to lock in recent security gains.

Somalia’s presence at the African Union Summit and its new role on the Peace and Security Council are poised to elevate Mogadishu’s voice in shaping continental responses to instability and humanitarian pressures. For the Somali government, the Addis Ababa gathering offers both a platform to reaffirm red lines on sovereignty and a venue to expand the coalitions needed to strengthen security and resilience at home.

By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.