ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on December 19, 2025, held high-level talks with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed during a one-day working visit to Addis Ababa, underscoring renewed diplomatic engagement between the two neighboring countries.
The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation in key areas, including security, political coordination, trade, and broader regional affairs affecting the Horn of Africa. Both leaders described the discussions as productive and part of an ongoing dialogue aimed at advancing shared priorities.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said the talks built on bilateral engagements conducted over the past year, emphasizing continued collaboration to promote regional stability and development. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud echoed the importance of sustained dialogue based on mutual respect, good neighborliness, and shared interests.
The discussions come amid efforts to normalize relations following tensions that emerged in 2024 after Ethiopia signed a controversial memorandum of understanding with Somaliland — a move strongly opposed by Somalia, which views Somaliland as an integral part of its territory. Earlier in 2025, Turkey mediated talks between the two countries, with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announcing an agreement aimed at easing tensions and addressing Ethiopia’s access to the sea.
President Hassan Sheikh was formally welcomed by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed upon arrival at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, and the two leaders later held a working lunch to further advance their discussions.
The Addis Ababa meeting signals continued diplomatic engagement between Somalia and Ethiopia as both sides seek to address regional challenges, including terrorism, cross-border crime, and political instability, while reinforcing a strategic partnership vital to peace and stability in the Horn of Africa.
