Somali, Ethiopian leaders reiterate commitment to promote peace, security in Horn of Africa

By Mohamed Dhaysane

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AA) - Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Thursday hosted Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in the capital Mogadishu, who paid his first visit to Somalia since the Ankara Declaration in December.

A joint statement issued after the talks said that the two neighboring leaders reiterated their commitment to promoting peace and security, and deepening bilateral relations for the benefit of the two nations and the broader Horn of Africa region.

In a separate statement, the Somali presidency said: “Following a tête-à-tête meeting, the two leaders led their respective delegations in bilateral talks to discuss ways to strengthen the close diplomatic, economic, and social cooperation between the two countries.”

This visit by the Ethiopia’s premier follows consecutive engagements over the past few months, reinforcing the normalization of bilateral relations between the two nations.

Mogadishu and Addis Ababa had lukewarm relations for nearly a year before Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan brokered a deal that ended the standoff.

During talks in Mogadishu on Thursday, the two leaders also welcomed the commencement of the technical talks in Türkiye’s capital, as agreed in the Ankara Declaration, underscoring their commitment to constructive dialogue and cooperation.

The Ankara Declaration was reached in December during talks between Abiy and Mohamud hosted by Erdogan in Ankara.