Addis Ababa (Hornpost) Analysis: What is going in Adiss Ababa President of Somalia and delegation from Somaliland.
- Verified Information
It is confirmed that Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is currently in Addis Ababa, where he held an official meeting with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali.
Additionally, several reliable media outlets — including Hornpost, Horyaal24, and Geeska Afrika Online — have reported that a Somaliland delegation led by Foreign Minister Dr. Abdirahman Dahir Aadan also arrived in Addis Ababa today.
The delegation includes Presidential Affairs Minister Khadar Hussein Abdi, senior Foreign Ministry advisor Jama Gaabush, and other key officials.
This means it is an established fact that a high-level Somaliland delegation reached Addis Ababa this afternoon (Sunday).
- Purpose of the Visit
The exact purpose of the trip has not been officially announced, but several likely explanations have emerged:
The visit appears to be linked to an official invitation extended by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi (Cirro).
The ministers’ delegation is believed to serve as an advance team preparing for President Cirro’s upcoming visit to Ethiopia, expected to take place after his return from the United Arab Emirates.
Therefore, the nature of the visit seems preparatory, rather than a direct political or diplomatic meeting taking place today.
- The Somali Angle and Overlapping Visits
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is in Addis Ababa, where he met with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed earlier today.
At the same time, a Somaliland ministerial delegation is present in the same city, reportedly arranging the groundwork for a separate visit by President Cirro.
So far, there is no official information indicating that the Somali and Somaliland delegations plan to meet, nor that Ethiopia is mediating a joint encounter between the two sides.
However, the timing overlap of the two visits has sparked public speculation and curiosity, given the political sensitivity between Somalia, Somaliland, and Ethiopia.
- Political Context and Possibility of a Meeting
Aspect Explanation
🇪🇹 Ethiopia’s Role Ethiopia seeks to restore its diplomatic relationship with Somalia while maintaining its strategic partnership with Somaliland — particularly concerning the Red Sea port access agreement.
🇸🇴 Somalia’s Position Mogadishu has not shifted from its stance that the Ethiopia–Somaliland MoU constitutes a “violation of sovereignty.” Therefore, a tripartite meeting would be highly sensitive politically.
🇸🇱 Somaliland’s Position President Cirro’s government wants to preserve strong ties with Ethiopia, especially in areas of trade and security, making this visit important for Somaliland’s diplomacy.
Possibility of a Direct Meeting
There is no official confirmation of any direct encounter between Presidents Cirro and Hassan Sheikh. However, Ethiopia might carefully schedule separate bilateral meetings to manage both relationships.
- Summary of What Is Currently Known
- The Somaliland delegation has indeed arrived in Addis Ababa.
- The Somali President is also in Addis Ababa and has met with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
- President Cirro has not yet traveled to Ethiopia but is reportedly expected to do so soon.
- There is no verified report of a planned or ongoing three-way meeting (Somalia–Somaliland–Ethiopia). The idea remains speculative, with no official statements from any government confirming such a discussion.
Conclusion:
While both Somali and Somaliland delegations are present in Ethiopia at the same time, current evidence suggests that their visits are separate and uncoordinated. Ethiopia appears to be engaging both sides independently — likely aiming to balance its regional relationships without triggering new political tensions.
Hornpost Staff Reporter
