Sunday October 26, 2025
Addis Ababa (HOL) – Somalia and Ethiopia held talks on
Saturday to strengthen bilateral ties, marking a significant step toward
restoring relations after more than a year of diplomatic tension.
The Somali delegation was led by the State Minister for
Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Ali Mohamed Omar, while the
Ethiopian delegation was headed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
The discussions took place on the sidelines of the Tana
High-Level Forum on Security in Africa, focusing on enhancing relations between
the two neighbouring nations through sustained diplomatic engagement and a
shared commitment to peace, stability, and security in the region.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to boosting
cooperation in the fight against terrorism, promoting regional stability, and
strengthening the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia
(AUSSOM).
It is worth noting that President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud
visited Ethiopia slightly over a week ago, as part of ongoing efforts to
normalize and strengthen bilateral relations.
Relations between Somalia and Ethiopia sharply deteriorated
in early 2024 following Ethiopia’s signing of a controversial maritime
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the self-declared Somaliland
administration on January 1, 2024.
Earlier this year, the two countries agreed to restore
diplomatic representation — a major step toward rebuilding trust after Somalia
severed ties over the sea access deal that granted landlocked Ethiopia access
to the Red Sea through Somaliland.