MOGADISHU, Somalia – Ethiopian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mesganu Arga and Defense Minister Aisha Mohammed Musse have arrived in the capital Mogadishu.
This follows up on the agreement between Somali President Hassan Sheikh and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, mediated by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on December 11 in Ankara.
The visit follows a trip by Somalia’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ali Balcad, and Intelligence Chief Abdullahi Sanbloolshe to Addis Ababa last month.
Both countries are improving their relationship, which soured last year after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed signed a maritime deal with Somaliland, a breakaway region, which angered Somalia.
Ethiopia seeks a legal maritime route and is negotiating with Somalia, which rejected the Somaliland deal due to its violation of Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Reliable sources say Defense Minister Musse will meet President Mohamud to discuss Ethiopia’s participation in the new African Union Support and Stabilisation mission (AUSSOM).
Mussa’s visit is reportedly linked to the presence of Ethiopian troops in Somalia, following the December 31, 2024 deadline for their withdrawal, which passed without any clarity on Somalia’s stance.
Ethiopia’s role in the AUSSOM remains unclear as Somalia is expected to release the names of each country contributing troops to the mission next month.
Ethiopia has 10,000 soldiers in Gedo, Hiran, Bay, and Bokol regions who it seeks to remain in Somalia and be part of the mission. Somalia has been reluctant to allow Ethiopia’s participation.
This comes as Ethiopia is concerned about Egypt establishing a military presence in Somalia, which could threaten its security. Both have been in a decade-long dispute over the Nile dam, in which Ethiopia has invested $5 billion.
