Somalia’s president arrived in Ethiopia on Saturday as the two countries looked to build on a recent peace deal aimed at defusing tensions in the volatile Horn of Africa.
Land-locked Ethiopia’s desire for access to the sea has deepened long-standing grievances between the two neighbours.
Somalia was outraged when Ethiopia signed a deal one year ago with its breakaway region of Somaliland, reportedly to recognise its independence in exchange for a port and military base on the Red Sea.
The diplomatic furore was defused by a peace deal signed last month by Somalian President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, which was mediated by Turkey.
Mohamud’s office said the visit to the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa came at Abiy’s request.
“This visit builds on the recent agreement reached in Ankara. This renewed cooperation underscores a new era of collaboration between Somalia and Ethiopia,” it said.Somalia’s president arrived in Ethiopia on Saturday as the two countries looked to build on a recent peace deal aimed at defusing tensions in the volatile Horn of Africa.
Land-locked Ethiopia’s desire for access to the sea has deepened long-standing grievances between the two neighbours.
Somalia was outraged when Ethiopia signed a deal one year ago with its breakaway region of Somaliland, reportedly to recognise its independence in exchange for a port and military base on the Red Sea.
The diplomatic furore was defused by a peace deal signed last month by Somalian President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, which was mediated by Turkey.
Mohamud’s office said the visit to the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa came at Abiy’s request.
“This visit builds on the recent agreement reached in Ankara. This renewed cooperation underscores a new era of collaboration between Somalia and Ethiopia,” it said.
