Wednesday January 15, 2025

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s hosting of Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is a ‘milestone,’ official says

ISTANBUL – The African Union hailed a weekend meeting between the leaders of Somalia and Ethiopia in Addis Ababa which materialized due to the Ankara Declaration.

Calling the meeting between Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud a “milestone,” Mohamed El-Amine Souef, the head of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), said such a move “reaffirms the enduring commitments made” under the declaration.

Souef is also the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia.

The Ankara Declaration was reached last December during talks between Ahmed and Mohamud hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara.

Souef said the meeting showed the “significance of the renewed focus on enhancing diplomatic ties, strengthening security cooperation and promoting economic integration.”

It is “crucial for advancing regional peace, stability and shared prosperity,” he added.

During their meeting in Addis Ababa, the two leaders announced the restoration and enhancement of bilateral relations through full diplomatic representation in their respective capitals upon ending a year-long dispute.

The dispute between Ethiopia and Somalia originated in January 2024, when Ethiopia signed an agreement with Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland to use the Red Sea port of Berbera.

Since then, Türkiye has actively mediated to ease tensions between the two countries.