Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud arrived in Eritrea’s capital, Asmara, on Wednesday for high-level talks with Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki.
This visit marks his eighth trip to the East African nation since assuming office in 2022, underscoring the growing strategic partnership between the two countries.
The two leaders are scheduled to hold discussions focusing on bilateral relations, security cooperation, and regional political developments. Eritrea, a longstanding neighbor of Somalia, has played a pivotal role in training Somali armed forces, bolstering the nation’s efforts to combat extremist threats and enhance its security infrastructure.
President Mohamud’s visit comes as tensions in the area have increased in the wake of Ethiopia and Somalia’s recent Ankara Agreement. Eritrea has criticized the contentious agreement that gives Ethiopia access to Somalia’s coastline. The BBC was told by a top advisor to Eritrea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the deal was “very ambiguous” and could be detrimental to Somali interests and sovereignty.
Eritrea’s opposition to the Ankara Agreement reflects broader concerns about regional stability and the balance of power in the Horn of Africa. Maritime access and security arrangements have long been sensitive issues, with significant implications for economic and geopolitical dynamics in the region.
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