Ethiopia and Somalia have agreed to restore and enhance bilateral relations through full diplomatic representation in their respective capitals.
The agreement was made on Saturday when Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud paid a visit to Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, marking his first official trip to neighbouring Ethiopia since the signing of the Ankara Agreement in December 2024.
This visit signaled a thaw in diplomatic tensions between the two Horn neighbours, following months of strained relations over Ethiopia’s controversial memorandum with Somaliland which is considered an enclave of Somalia.
A statement issued by Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia have exchanged views on a range of bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest and held constructive talks to strengthen the fraternal relationship between the peoples of the two countries.
The governments of the two countries issued a joint communiqué reaffirming their commitment to deepening bilateral relations and addressing key regional challenges.
The communique stated that the two leaders agreed to restore full diplomatic representation which was severed after Somalia recalled its ambassador to Mogadishu over Ethiopia’s controversial MoU with Somaliland which was to guarantee the former access to a Red Sea port in exchange for recognition the Somali enclave as a sovereign nation.
Furthermore, the leaders emphasised the need for their diplomatic missions in multilateral and regional forums to closely cooperate on matters of mutual interest.
The leaders reaffirmed that the stability of the region requires strong cooperation between the two countries based on mutual trust, confidence and respect.
They agreed to work together to further coordinate efforts to improve regional relations, fostering common understanding and shared progress, according to the communique.
The talks also focused on the need to continue and strengthen security cooperation between the two countries, the statement said.
Underscoring the serious and evolving threat posed by extremist militant groups in the region such as al-Shabaab, the leaders agreed to instruct their respective security agencies to bolster cooperation in promoting peace and stability in the region.
In addition, the leaders underlined the importance of intensifying economic cooperation, trade and investment between the two countries.
They agreed to expand infrastructure linkages to facilitate trade and shared prosperity through more robust economic cooperation.
MG/as/APA