Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed arrived in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu on Thursday to carry discussions with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Somalia’s presidency stated, comply withing a thaw in icy relations.
The connection soured in January 2024 when Ethiopia introduced plans to lease a stretch of shoreline in Somalia’s breakaway Somaliland area.
Ethiopia deliberate to construct a naval base and industrial port in trade for possible recognition of Somaliland’s independence.
Somalia accused Ethiopia of undermining its territorial integrity, threatened to eject its peacekeepers, and strengthened ties with Ethiopia’s arch foes Egypt and Eritrea.
Mogadishu airport was hit by no less than one mortar shell shortly earlier than Abiy’s airplane landed on Thursday, regardless of all roads across the excessive safety advanced being closed, 4 native residents and media stated.
The 2 international locations agreed to resolve the dispute at talks mediated by Ankara in December, pledging to seek out industrial preparations to permit landlocked Ethiopia “dependable, safe and sustainable entry to and from the ocean.”
Additionally they agreed to start technical negotiations by the top of February.
“The 2 leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation for mutual profit,” the governments stated in a joint assertion after Abiy and Mohamud met. —Reuter
