Ethiopia to mend relations with neighbor
The trip comes after Abiy and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud agreed last month to restore diplomatic relations following a year-long standoff over a Red Sea access agreement.
According to a joint statement published by the Ethiopian Foreign Affairs Ministry, the two leaders have 'reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation for mutual benefit.'
'Recognizing the deep historical ties between their peoples and the shared border that connects them, they emphasized the importance of building trust through enhanced diplomatic, economic, and social cooperation,' it stated.
Addis Ababa and Mogadishu became locked in a diplomatic conflict in January last year after Ethiopia signed a preliminary agreement with Somalia's breakaway region, Somaliland, to lease coastline for commercial purposes and to build a naval base, allegedly in exchange for recognition of the territory's independence.
Somalia, which considers Somaliland its own territory despite the province declaring independence in 1991, deemed the deal illegal and accused Ethiopia of aggression. Mogadishu expelled Ethiopia's ambassador, ordered the closure of two consulates, and recalled its representative in Addis Ababa in response.
Relations between the two Horn of Africa states have improved in recent months, following talks mediated by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in December. During the Ankara negotiations, Abiy and Mohamud committed to hold technical discussions to reach an agreement that would safeguard Somalia's territorial integrity and also grant Ethiopia access to the sea.
On January 11, the Somali president visited Addis Ababa and met with the Ethiopian prime minister, after which they jointly announced their decision to speed up negotiations.
'The two leaders welcomed the commencement of the technical talks in Ankara… underscoring their commitment to constructive dialogue and cooperation,' according to the joint statement announcing Abiy's working visit on Thursday.
'Both leaders expressed their commitment to implementing strategic infrastructure projects to ensure sustainable development, economic integration and strengthen people-to-people ties,' it added.
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