Thursday April 11, 2024
Nairobi (HOL) - Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud arrived in Nairobi, Kenya, on Thursday for a one-day official visit.
The spokesperson of the Somali Presidential Palace, Abdirahman Hudeyfi, stated that the president's trip aims to strengthen the relationship between the two countries and enhance cooperation in trade and the fight against terrorism.
However, Kenyan President William Ruto has recently been involved in diplomatic efforts to ease tensions between Mogadishu and Addis Ababa, which arose after Ethiopia's Prime Minister signed an MoU with Somaliland. This agreement grants Ethiopia access to the sea in exchange for international recognition of Somaliland.
President Hassan Sheikh had previously declined a meeting with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, setting a condition that Ethiopia cancel the agreement with Somaliland first.
Somalia - which considers Somaliland to be part of its territory - has previously described the move as an act of aggression.
Both the African Union and the US have backed the territorial integrity of Somalia and urged all parties to cool tensions.