Somalia, Ethiopia to Re-Open Embassies Ending Year-Long Hostilities

GOOBJOOG NEWS|ADDIS ABABA: Somalia and Ethiopia will now reopen their respective embassies following a détente in Addis Ababa Saturday, ending a year-long diplomatic fallout that reshaped relations in the Horn of Africa.

Following a meeting in Addis Ababa Saturday, president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced the ‘full resumption’ of diplomatic relations exactly a month since the Turkish-mediated talks in Ankara.

“They agreed to restore and enhance their bilateral relations through full diplomatic representation in their respective capitals,” a communiqué from the meeting read in part.

Furthermore, the two leaders emphasized the need for their diplomatic missions in multilateral and regional forums to closely cooperate on matters of mutual interest, the statement added.

The two leaders ‘also’reaffirmed that the stability of the region requires strong cooperation between the two countries based on mutual trust, confidence, and respect. They agreed to work together to further coordinate efforts to improve regional relations, fostering common understanding and shared progress.’

Somalia expelled the Ethiopia’s ambassador, Mukhtar Mohamed, in April as disputes between the two countries escalated since the signing of the controversial MoU between Ethiopia and the breakaway region of Somaliland on January 1, 2024. Somalia also closed Ethiopia’s consulates in Garowe and Hargeisa.

The Prime Minister’s office had then accused Addis Ababa of ‘plain interference of Ethiopia’s government’ in Somalia’s internal affairs.’

The Saturday deal follows the signing of the Ankara Agreement on December 12, 2024, between President Mohamud and PM Ahmed in Ankara under the auspices and mediation of Turkish President Recep Erdogan.