Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed’s Visit to Somalia Marks End of Tensions Over Somaliland MoU
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed visited Somalia, signaling the end of a year-long diplomatic tension over an MoU with Somaliland. His discussions with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud focused on strengthening bilateral relations, addressing security challenges, and fostering economic cooperation. Despite this progress, concerns regarding ongoing conflicts with Eritrea persist, indicating a complex regional dynamic.
On Thursday, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed made an official visit to Somalia, indicating the resolution of a year-long tension over Ethiopia’s Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Somaliland. The Prime Minister’s office reported that Abiy Ahmed and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud conducted extensive discussions aimed at strengthening bilateral relations, covering topics such as peace and security, economic cooperation, diplomacy, and joint infrastructure development opportunities.
Prior to this visit, the leaders convened twice in Addis Ababa following the signing of the Turkish-mediated Ankara Agreement in December 2023. This agreement is believed to have played a crucial role in averting a potential military conflict between Ethiopia and Somalia, which had escalated following Ethiopia’s engagement with the breakaway region of Somaliland, deemed a violation of Somali sovereignty.
Upon his arrival at Aden Ade International Airport in Mogadishu, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was warmly welcomed by President Mohamud. Expressing gratitude for the reception, Abiy noted in a social media post, “I appreciate the warm and brotherly welcome from President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.” However, reports emerged of a mortar attack targeting the airport shortly before his landing, with sources suggesting a possible link to Al-Shabab militants, although confirmation of this connection remains pending.
During their meeting, security challenges affecting the country and region were discussed alongside economic and infrastructural development. The Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a joint communique affirming their commitment to bolstering mutual cooperation. This document underscored the deep historical ties between Ethiopia and Somalia, emphasizing enhanced diplomatic, economic, and social collaborations as essential for building trust.
The released communique indicates a shift towards mending relations and ending previous hostilities between the two nations. Nonetheless, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed may still face challenges at home, especially as tensions with Eritrea, with which Somalia signed a tripartite agreement in October 2024, seem to be escalating. Reports from BBC Amharic regarding troop mobilization in Eritrea have been met with skepticism by some Eritrean activists, who labeled the news as misleading.
In summary, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s visit to Somalia marks a significant step towards healing diplomatic relations after a year of tension related to Ethiopia’s MoU with Somaliland. Discussions between the two leaders focused on vital areas including security, economy, and infrastructure collaboration, suggesting a commitment to forge stronger ties. However, the evolving security landscape, particularly with Eritrea, remains an area of concern.
Original Source: borkena.com
