MOGADISHU, Somalia – Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is set to visit Ethiopia for the first time in 10 months, with an uproar erupting on social media before his trip.
President Mohamud will hold talks with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to move forward with the Ankara declaration, which was mediated by Turkish President Erdogan last month.
Sources say the meeting will focus on Ethiopia’s role in contributing troops to the new African Union mission in Somalia and its efforts to secure sea access through the Ankara accord.
Ethiopia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Dina Mufti said Somalia accepted Ethiopia’s request, and upcoming talks will focus on defining conditions and implementation mechanisms.
He also dismissed claims labeling Ethiopia’s bid as an attack on Somalia’s sovereignty, calling them ‘unfounded.’ “Ethiopia has a legal right to sea access,” he said.”
Last month, Ethiopia resolved tensions with Somalia over a maritime deal signed with Somaliland, a breakaway region, with Mogadishu accepting Addis Ababa’s sea access bid.
Abdirashid Hash, analyst and co-founder of the Heritage Institute, said Ethiopia, led by Abiy Ahmed, still seeks to dismember Somalia and annex its land and sea despite the Ankara declaration.
“Ten months ago, President Mohamud was detained in Addis. Since then, Ethiopia has continued efforts to dismantle Somalia and annex its land and sea,” said Hashi.
“Why rush to Addis now, President Mohamud?” he said. “Ethiopia is actively working against Somalia. Doesn’t the Somali people’s opinion matter? They stood by you—why disregard them?”
President Mohamud, now in Uganda for the CAADP Summit, will make his next stop in Addis Ababa following an invitation offered by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
Mohamud said his visit aims to build on the recent Ankara agreement and strengthen cooperation, marking a new era of collaboration between Somalia and Ethiopia.
This comes as Turkish President Erdogan plans to visit Ethiopia and Somalia to strengthen relations and mediate further, despite allegations that he’s led Somalia into Ethiopia’s sea access trap.
