Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital, on Saturday, marking a significant step towards healing a year-long diplomatic rift between the two nations.
The visit comes exactly a month after Somalia and Ethiopia signed the Ankara Declaration, a diplomatic agreement aimed at ending their bitter dispute.
Mohamud’s visit was confirmed by his office, which stated that the discussions with Ethiopian leadership aimed to strengthen bilateral relations and advance shared priorities.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed welcomed Mohamud at the Addis Ababa airport, setting a positive tone for the visit.
The diplomatic spat between Somalia and Ethiopia began over a contentious maritime access deal between Ethiopia and Somaliland, a breakaway region in Somalia.
The Somali government rejected the deal, accusing Ethiopia of violating its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
However, under the Ankara Declaration, mediated by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, both nations reaffirmed their commitment to each other’s sovereignty, unity, independence, and territorial integrity.
Mohamud’s visit to Ethiopia is seen as a crucial step towards normalizing relations between the two countries.
The visit also underscores the importance of regional diplomacy in resolving conflicts and promoting cooperation.
