Somalia: What president Hassan Sheikh discussed in Italy

ROME, Italy - Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was one of the Heads of State and Government who attended the Italy-Africa Summit in Rome, a platform that allowed him to address some of the contemporary issues affecting the country around the globe.

The summit was organized by the government of Italy and it allowed the continental leaders to explore new avenues of collaboration on social-economic fronts besides helping in strengthening international relations.

In Italy, he said, he emphasized the need for global solutions to our interconnected challenges, highlighting the importance of migration, a phenomenon that has shaped human history and is driven by various factors, including conflict, poverty, and climate change.

"In Somalia, factors like insecurity, limited economic opportunities, and climate change drive migration. I highlighted Africa's significant contribution to Europe's reconstruction and growth through migration, benefiting both continents via remittances, knowledge transfer, and diaspora investment," he said.

"I addressed the serious concerns over perilous migrant journeys across the Mediterranean, exacerbated by human traffickers."

But the current tussles with Ethiopia did emerge, as President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud maintained that it is paramount for nations to respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of other countries. He condemned Addis Ababa for attempts to annex parts of Somalia.

"I stressed the importance of respecting each nation's sovereignty and territorial integrity for effective international cooperation and progressive change. The Africa-Italy partnership cannot and will not work under certain conditions. It is untenable if one African state decides to break international laws by attempting to annex the territory of another, as Ethiopia has unsuccessfully attempted to do in my country," he noted.

"This illegal action will cause tensions, conflict, and regional instability if it is not retracted. This will, in turn, exacerbate the migration, mobility, and security challenges we are here to address."

Somalia has ruled out any planned mediation with Ethiopia until the controversial agreement with Somaliland is 'retracted'. Once implemented, the agreement will see Ethiopia getting 20 kilometers of Red Sea in Somalia in exchange for Somaliland's recognition as sovereign state, a move which has agitated Somalia.

GAROWE ONLINE