President of Somalia Hassan Sheikh is visiting Ethiopia today. Since January last year, Ethiopia and Somalia have been involved in a diplomatic row.
The president’s visit is likely to lead to improvement in bilateral relations. Somalia expelled Ethiopian ambassador to Mogadishu and withdrew its ambassador to Addis Ababa at the start of last year. In December 2024, mediated by Turkiye, Somalia and Ethiopia signed Ankara Declaration to normalize tense relations. The two agreed to start technical talks to solve issues like access to sea etc.
President of Somalia Hassan Sheikh will raise the issue of growing Ethiopian political clout in the Jubaland regional state of Somalia. Ethiopia indirectly supported indirect election held in Jubaland in November 2024. The election was opposed by the federal government of Somalia. Amid rising tensions between Jubaland and Mogadishu, Hassan Sheikh wants PM Abiy Ahmed’s administration to support federal government of Somalia.
Ethiopian prime minister is expected to raise the issue of growing Egyptian military presence in Somalia. Egypt wants a leading role in AUSSOM, the new peacekeeping mission in Somalia. Ethiopia has long been opposing Egyptian efforts to gain a military foothold in the Ethiopian neighborhood.
Both Egyptian and Ethiopian troops will be part of the new peacekeeping mission in Somalia. The scale of their participation is likely to be decided at the meeting between Ethiopian Prime Minister and Somalia’s President. In Cairo today, foreign minister of Somalia, Egypt and Eritrea are going to start discussions to finalize preparations for the deployment of Egyptian peacekeepers in Somalia.
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