https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/ethiopias-pm-abiy-visits-somalia-discussions-with-president-mohamud-2025-02-27/?utm_source=chatgpt.com?
Ethiopia’s Abiy visits Somalia, holds talks with President Mohamud. By Reuters.
MOGADISHU, Feb 27 (Reuters) – Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed arrived in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu on Thursday to hold discussions with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Somalia’s presidency said, following a thaw in icy relations.
The relationship soured in January 2024 when Ethiopia announced plans to lease a stretch of coastline in Somalia’s breakaway Somaliland region.
Ethiopia planned to build a naval base and commercial port in exchange for possible recognition of Somaliland’s independence.
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Somalia accused Ethiopia of undermining its territorial integrity, threatened to eject its peacekeepers, and strengthened ties with Ethiopia’s arch foes Egypt and Eritrea.
Mogadishu airport was hit by at least one mortar shell shortly before Abiy’s plane landed on Thursday, despite all roads around the high security complex being closed, four local residents and media said.
The two countries agreed to resolve the dispute at talks mediated by Ankara in December, pledging to find commercial arrangements to allow landlocked Ethiopia “reliable, secure and sustainable access to and from the sea.”