Wednesday February 28, 2024
Nairobi (HOL) - Somalia's President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, accompanied by his delegation, has landed in Nairobi, Kenya, to attend the 6th Environmental and Climate Change Conference. The visit comes amid heightened tensions in the Horn of Africa.
The increasing frictions between Somalia and Ethiopia, fueled by Ethiopia's maritime agreement with the self-declared independent region of Somaliland, set a contentious backdrop for Mohamud's discussions in Nairobi.
Somali officials have vowed not to engage with Ethiopia directly until it disavows the MoU signed with Somaliland on New Year's Day.
Hours before President Mohamud's arrival, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed also landed in the Kenyan capital for an official state visit.
Upon their arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, President Mohamud and his team were welcomed by Kenya's Vice President Rigathi Gachagua, Defense Minister Adan Barre Duale, and other officials. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who is on his first state visit since President William Ruto's tenure began, was welcomed by his Kenyan counterpart at the same airport.
While in Nairobi, President Mohamud is expected to engage in separate meetings with leaders, a move paralleling the broader regional cooperation exemplified by recent Kenyan-Ethiopian agreements.On Tuesday, Somalia's President, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, disclosed that he received a call from Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed the night before the public announcement of a maritime agreement between Ethiopia and Somaliland.
President Mohamud mentioned that Prime Minister Abiy only informed him about Muse Bihi, the head of the Somaliland administration, travelling to Ethiopia.
The Somali President expressed strong opposition to Ethiopia's continuation of what he considers an unlawful deal aimed at claiming parts of Somalia's marine areas.
He stated firmly, "Somalia is entitled to protect itself against Ethiopian moves in any possible way."
Relations took a nosedive in mid-January after Somalia blocked an Ethiopian Airlines jet carrying Ethiopian officials to Somaliland.
In response to the MoU, Somalia fast-tracked a decade-long pact with Turkey to defend its extensive coastline, which spans over 2,000 miles.