MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud arrived in Ethiopia’s capital on Sunday to attend the second Africa Climate Summit and the inauguration of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), a move likely to raise eyebrows in Cairo amid long-standing tensions over Nile water rights, Universal Somali TV reported on Sunday.
Mohamud’s office said in a statement that the president would participate in the continental climate summit and hold bilateral talks on its sidelines. However, his planned attendance at Tuesday’s inauguration of Ethiopia’s controversial hydropower project on the Blue Nile underscores a calculated diplomatic balancing act between two regional heavyweights – Egypt and Ethiopia.
The GERD, which Addis Ababa says is vital to its development goals, has been a flashpoint in relations with downstream nations Egypt and Sudan, who argue that the dam threatens their historical water shares and national security. Ethiopia announced the completion of the dam’s filling phase weeks ago, despite continued opposition from Cairo and Khartoum.
Egypt, a key ally of Somalia’s federal government, has contributed troops to the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia, with deployments expected in the coming weeks. While Cairo reportedly disapproves of Mohamud’s participation in the GERD ceremony, Egyptian officials are keen to avoid any public rupture with Mogadishu, which they view as a strategic partner in the Horn of Africa.
Somali diplomatic sources say the decision for Mohamud to attend was encouraged by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, aiming to reaffirm Mogadishu’s commitment to a cooperative and brotherly relationship with Addis Ababa. The move is also seen as a gesture to uphold the spirit of the Ankara Declaration – a 2024 agreement between Somalia and Ethiopia brokered in Turkey to de-escalate tensions following Addis Ababa’s maritime access deal with Somaliland, the breakaway northern region of Somalia.
The Mogadishu government is seeking to maintain a delicate diplomatic balance between Ethiopia and Egypt, even as the two regional powers jostle for influence across the Horn. Ethiopia has voiced concern over the planned deployment of Egyptian troops in Somalia, warning it could inflame regional rivalries.
However, by attending the GERD inauguration, Somali officials say President Mohamud is asserting Somalia’s sovereign right to pursue an independent foreign policy, free from external pressure.
The Somali leadership maintains that strong ties with both Addis Ababa and Cairo are essential for stability and development in the Horn of Africa.
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