Ethiopian PM to Visit Mogadishu for Talks with Somali President

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed will travel to Mogadishu in the coming days for high-level discussions with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, officials from both countries confirmed Wednesday. The visit follows the arrival of an Ethiopian advance team in the Somali capital. The two nations are working to finalize technical negotiations outlined in the Ankara Declaration, a landmark agreement brokered by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in December.

The Ankara Declaration, signed on Dec. 11, 2024, marked a turning point in the strained relationship between Ethiopia and Somalia, easing tensions that flared earlier last year over Ethiopia’s controversial deal with Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland. That agreement, which aimed to secure Ethiopia sea access through a 50-year lease of Somaliland’s coastline, was fiercely opposed by Mogadishu, which viewed it as a violation of its sovereignty. The dispute had raised fears of regional instability in the Horn of Africa, drawing in powers like Egypt and Eritrea.

Under the December deal, mediated after seven hours of talks in Ankara, Ethiopia, and Somalia committed to resolving their differences through dialogue and mutual respect. The declaration affirmed Somalia’s territorial integrity while initiating a framework for Ethiopia, a landlocked nation of over 120 million people, to gain “reliable, secure, and sustainable” commercial access to the sea via Somali ports. Technical negotiations, which began in Ankara earlier this month, are set to conclude within four months, with both sides aiming to hammer out specifics by late spring.

An Ethiopian government spokesperson said Abiy’s upcoming visit underscores a commitment to “strengthen bilateral ties and advance shared priorities.” Somali officials echoed the sentiment, noting that the talks build on recent diplomatic exchanges, including Mohamud’s surprise visit to Addis Ababa in January and a trip by Ethiopia’s defense minister to Mogadishu earlier this month.

“The president’s visit to Mogadishu is a testament to the progress made since Ankara,” said a senior Somali official, speaking on condition of anonymity ahead of the talks. “We’re moving toward cooperation, not confrontation.”

The reconciliation has been hailed as a diplomatic win for Erdogan, who has positioned Turkey as a key regional mediator. Turkey’s deep ties with both nations—evident in its military base in Mogadishu and its sale of armed drones to Ethiopia during its civil war—helped facilitate the breakthrough. Analysts say the deal not only benefits Ethiopia’s economic ambitions but also bolsters Turkey’s influence in the Horn of Africa.

On the agenda in Mogadishu are discussions about Ethiopia’s potential role in the new African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia, known as AUSSOM, which replaces the current mission expiring this year. Somalia had threatened to expel Ethiopian troops over the Somaliland dispute, but the Ankara accord has opened the door to their continued participation, albeit under negotiated terms.

Abiy’s trip, his first to Mogadishu since the December agreement, signals a new chapter for the two neighbors. Their historical rivalry has often complicated regional security efforts, including the fight against al-Shabab militants. Following their talks, both leaders are expected to address the media, and further details on the implementation of the Ankara Declaration are likely to emerge.

The visit comes as Somalia hosts technical teams from both countries, with Ethiopian negotiators arriving Tuesday to lay the groundwork. Somali Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi called the process “a significant step forward,” attributing progress to “mutual tolerance and goodwill.” Neither side has disclosed an exact date for Abiy’s arrival, but security has been tightened around Mogadishu’s airport and government district in anticipation of the summit.

GAROWE ONLINE