Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud travelled to Addis Ababa on Monday for a one-day working visit, where he met Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed for talks on bilateral relations and security.
The meeting, announced by the Somali presidency, focused on strengthening longstanding ties between the neighbouring countries and expanding regional cooperation to promote peace and stability.
The Ethiopian Prime Minister’s Office also shared a photograph of the two leaders following the meeting.
The Ethiopian visit was Mohamud’s first trip abroad after returning from New York earlier in September, when he attended the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly and addressed the assembly on Somalia’s political and economic priorities.
Resolved dispute
The talks come as relations between Somalia and Ethiopia continue to improve following a period of heightened tensions over Ethiopia’s January 2024 memorandum of understanding with the breakaway region of Somaliland on sea access. Mogadishu termed that agreement breach of Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Türkiye successfully mediated the two nations’ dispute in December 2024.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hosted Mohamud and Abiy in Ankara, where the two sides adopted the Ankara Declaration. They reaffirmed their commitment to each other’s sovereignty, unity, independence and territorial integrity.
The declaration also recognised Ethiopia’s interest to secure access to the sea, while directing that any arrangements would be made under Somalia’s sovereign authority.
Mutually beneficial agreements
The two countries agreed to pursue mutually beneficial commercial agreements through bilateral negotiations, with Türkiye facilitating the process.
Mohamud’s latest meeting with Abiy comes amid continued efforts to consolidate the rapprochement between the two neighbours and deepen cooperation on regional security and stability.
