Regional Security and Politics Dominate Jigjiga Talks as Leaders Later Unveil Major Energy Project

GOOBJOOG NEWS|JIGJIGA: President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Friday held extensive consultations in Jigjiga with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh, with talks centring on the fast-evolving political and security situation in the Horn of Africa.

According to Villa Somalia, the closed-door discussions focused on regional security coordination, political developments across East Africa, and the need for closer alignment among neighbouring states as the region navigates a period of heightened diplomatic activity and strategic uncertainty.

The leaders reviewed emerging threats, shifting alliances, and cross-border dynamics that continue to shape stability in the Horn.Somalia’s presidency said the timing of the meeting was particularly significant, coming amid what it described as a “fluid situation” in the region.

Mogadishu has in recent months intensified diplomatic engagement with key neighbours, prioritising dialogue as a means of safeguarding Somalia’s unity, sovereignty, and long-term stability while contributing to collective regional security.Economic cooperation also featured prominently in the Jigjiga talks.

The three leaders discussed ways to deepen cross-border trade, infrastructure development, and investment, with an emphasis on linking security cooperation to tangible economic outcomes that can strengthen resilience across the region.

Only after the political and security consultations did the leaders turn to development diplomacy. President Hassan Sheikh, Prime Minister Abiy, and President Guelleh jointly inaugurated the Aysha-II Wind Power Project, a major renewable energy investment located in Ethiopia’s Somali Regional State.Speaking at the inauguration, Prime Minister Abiy described Aysha-II as a flagship project within Ethiopia’s renewable energy agenda and a key pillar of its energy security strategy.

The wind farm has an annual generation capacity of 467 gigawatt-hours (GWh) and is designed to provide reliable, scalable power to support economic growth.Ethiopian officials highlighted the project’s regional dimension, noting the strategic location of the Aysha plains near international borders and their potential role in positioning Ethiopia as a hub for cross-border energy trade. Framed within Ethiopia’s Medemer philosophy, the project was presented as an example of how shared natural resources can be used to deepen economic interdependence in the Horn of Africa.