President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed commit to restoring diplomatic relations between Somalia and Ethiopia, while the status of the Somaliland deal still hangs in the balance.

Somalia and Ethiopia announced on 11 January that they would restore full diplomatic relations following the president of Somalia‘s visit to Addis Ababa to heal a year-long rift that threatened further instability in the Horn of Africa.

In a joint statement, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed “agreed to restore and enhance their bilateral relations through full diplomatic relations in their respective capitals”.

Land-locked Ethiopia’s desire for access to the sea had 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.

Ethiopia’s ambassador in Mogadishu was expelled in April 2024 and the countries broke off their diplomatic ties. The row was defused by a peace deal in December, mediated by Turkiye and signed by both leaders.

During Mohamud’s visit to the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on Saturday, the leaders reiterated their commitment to the deal and its “spirit of friendship and solidarity”. They also discussed deepening trade as well as security cooperation against “extremist militant groups”.

Taking sides: Egypt, Eritrea, Somalia vs. Ethiopia

Many questions remain unresolved, however. Although Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said last month’s deal would eventually give Ethiopia some form of sea access, it was not clear what form this would take. The fate of Ethiopia’s deal with Somaliland is also uncertain.

Just hours before Saturday’s presidential visit, the continued tensions in the region were on display in Cairo when Somalia’s Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi met his Egyptian and Eritrean counterparts.

The three countries have found common ground in opposing Ethiopia’s ambitions and made a veiled reference to their rival.

“The Red Sea and its security are subject only to the will of the countries on its coast, and it is unacceptable for any country not bordering the Red Sea to have a presence, whether military, naval or otherwise,” Egypt‘s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said.

Egypt, Eritrea and Somalia forged a new regional alliance in October at a summit in the Eritrean capital Asmara. Shared concerns about Ethiopia have also pushed Egypt and Somalia into closer military ties.

Egyptian troops joined the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) – the updated international coalition to fight jihadist insurgents – that was launched this month.

Source: The Africa Report