MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed will arrive in Mogadishu on Thursday for his first visit to Somalia’s capital since tensions flared between the two nations in early 2024 over a controversial sea access deal with Somaliland.
Abiy is set to meet Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to discuss advancing a bilateral agreement aimed at resolving disputes and finalizing terms for Ethiopia’s access to the sea through Somali territory.
The talks will build on the Ankara agreement, brokered late last year by Turkey, which sought to ease tensions after Somalia accused Ethiopia of infringing on its sovereignty. The leaders are expected to finalize details of Ethiopia’s commercial sea access, including modalities for its implementation.
The visit comes as Ethiopia secures a significant role in Somalia’s security landscape. This week, Ethiopian troops were approved to remain in Somalia and participate in the new African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), with a quota of 2,500 soldiers. This allocation exceeds those granted to other contributing nations, including Djibouti, Kenya, and Egypt.
The sea access deal, which sparked diplomatic friction earlier this year, remains a focal point of discussions. Somalia had criticized the agreement as a violation of its territorial integrity, but both nations have since sought to de-escalate tensions through dialogue.
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