ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is set to visit Addis Ababa this Saturday to engage in high-level discussions with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, focusing on strengthening ties and addressing pressing regional issues.

The agenda highlights the implementation of the Ankara Agreement and Ethiopia’s role in Somalia’s newly restructured peacekeeping mission. Both leaders aim to foster regional stability, deepen economic partnerships, and advance political collaboration.

This visit marks President Mohamud’s first trip to Addis Ababa since attending the 37th African Union Summit on February 17, 2023. That occasion was overshadowed by controversy, as Somali officials alleged Ethiopian forces restricted the president’s movements, leading to his early departure alongside Djibouti’s president.

Tensions between the two nations have remained high, particularly following Ethiopia’s January 2024 agreement with Somaliland. The deal granted Ethiopia a 20-kilometer stretch of Somaliland’s coastline for maritime and military purposes, raising concerns about Somaliland’s sovereignty and its implications for Somalia’s territorial integrity.

Despite these challenges, the Ankara Declaration, brokered by Turkey in December 2024, has emerged as a pivotal milestone in easing bilateral tensions. This agreement recognized Somalia’s territorial rights while granting Ethiopia regulated access to Somali ports, striking a balance between Ethiopia’s economic interests and Somalia’s sovereignty.