Ethiopia Prime Minister visits Mogadishu for consultations with Somali President
MOGADISH, SOLDISH – Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed will travel to Mogadishu in the coming days, officials from both countries confirmed on Wednesday for high-level discussions with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. The visit follows the arrival of Ethiopian advance teams in the Somali capital. The two countries are working to complete the technology negotiations outlined in the Ankara Declaration, a landmark contract mediated by Turkish President Recept Tayyip Erdogan in December.
The Ankara Declaration, signed on December 11, 2024, marked a turning point in tension between Ethiopia and Somalia, and first flares up last year over Ethiopia's controversial deal with Somalia's breakaway region. The tension has been relieved. The agreement, which aimed to ensure access to the Ethiopian seas through a 50-year lease on the Somaliland coastline, vehemently opposed Mogadishu, which saw it as a violation of sovereignty. The conflict caused fear of regional instability in the Horn of Africa, drawing powers like Egypt and Eritrea.
In the December deal, after seven hours of talks in Ankara, Ethiopia and Somalia, he promised to resolve differences through dialogue and mutual respect. The declaration launched the framework of Ethiopia, a landlocked country of over 120 million to gain commercial access to the “reliable, safe and sustainable” seas through the Somali port. , confirmed the integrity of Somali territory. Technology negotiations that began in Ankara earlier this month are set to close within four months, with both sides aiming to bring out details by the end of spring.
An Ethiopian government spokesperson said Abiy's future visit emphasized its commitment to “strengthen bilateral relations and advance shared priorities.” Somali officials noted that the talk was built on recent diplomatic exchanges, including a surprising visit to Addis Ababa in Mohamud in January and a trip by the Ethiopian Defense Minister to Mogadishu, Ethiopia earlier this month. And I repeated my feelings.
“The President's visit to Mogadishu is a testament to progress since Ankara,” a senior Somali official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity before consultations. “We're not at odds with us, we're heading towards cooperation.”
The settlement is hailed as a diplomatic victory for Erdogan, who has positioned Turkey as a key regional mediator. Turkey's deep ties with both countries, as evident in the sale of military bases in Mogadishu and armed drones to Ethiopia during the civil war, will promote a breakthrough. Analysts say the deal will not only benefit Ethiopia's economic ambitions, but will also strengthen Turkey's influence in the Horn of Africa.
The Mogadishu agenda includes debate about Ethiopia's potential role in Somalia's new African Union peacekeeping mission known as Ousom to replace the current mission that expires this year. Somalia had threatened to expel Ethiopian troops in the Somaliland conflict, but the Ankara Agreement, although negotiated, opened the door to their continued participation.
His first trip to Mogadishu since the December agreement marks a new chapter for two neighbors. Their historic rivalry has often complicated regional security efforts, including fighting al-Shabaab's militants. Following their speech, both leaders are expected to deal with the media, and more details about the implementation of the Ankara Declaration are likely to emerge.
The visit will be held when Somalia hosts technical teams from both countries and Ethiopian negotiators arrive on Tuesday to lay the foundations. Somali Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiki calls the process “an important step forward” and attributes it to “mutual tolerance and goodwill.” Neither side has given a precise date for Abiy's arrival, but security has been increased around Mogadishu's airport and government quarters in anticipation of the summit.
Garou Online
