By Hornpost Staff – Hargeisa | October 2025
Hargeisa (Hornpost) Despite optimistic official statements, reports suggest Addis Ababa and Hargeisa failed to reach an understanding on the contentious MoU that once hinted at Ethiopian recognition of Somaliland.
President Abdirahman Cirro’s first official visit to Ethiopia ends without tangible progress as sources indicate disagreement over the MoU clause on Somaliland’s recognition. The visit highlights Ethiopia’s careful balancing act between Hargeisa and Mogadishu.
The three-day official visit of Somaliland’s President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdilahi (Cirro) to Addis Ababa — his first trip abroad since taking office — has concluded amid mixed reactions and lingering questions over what was achieved.
While the Somaliland Presidency described the mission as “fruitful and strategic,” insiders suggest that talks with Ethiopian officials failed to produce concrete results, particularly on the issue of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed earlier this year between the two sides.
Unmet Expectations:
Observers across the Horn had viewed the visit as a potential turning point in Somaliland–Ethiopia relations. The MoU, initially signed under former President Muse Bihi Abdi, reportedly included a clause granting Ethiopia a naval base and sea access in exchange for official recognition of Somaliland.
However, diplomatic sources told Hornpost that Ethiopia requested the removal of the recognition clause from the draft agreement — a demand that reportedly stalled progress. The same sources described the discussions as “cordial but inconclusive.”
Addis Ababa’s Message of Unity:
Just one day before President Cirro’s arrival, Ethiopia’s government issued a statement declaring that Somalia’s President had agreed to provide sea access to Ethiopia, while reaffirming Addis Ababa’s respect for Somalia’s unity and territorial integrity.
Analysts viewed the announcement as a signal to Hargeisa that Ethiopia is recalibrating its approach — seeking maritime access through diplomatic normalization with Mogadishu rather than bilateral recognition of Somaliland.
Hargeisa’s Official Line:
Upon returning to Hargeisa, the Somaliland Presidency hailed the visit as “a success that advanced shared national interests.” According to the official communiqué, President Cirro met Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and other senior officials to discuss security cooperation, trade facilitation, border stability, and infrastructure development.
Notably absent from the statement was any mention of the MoU or the recognition issue. When pressed by journalists at Egal International Airport, Foreign Minister Abdirahman Dahir Aadan Bakal confirmed high-level meetings took place but refused to elaborate, declining all media questions — a move that has fueled speculation about the trip’s real outcomes.
A Complex Balancing Act:
Analysts say Ethiopia is walking a tightrope policy — maintaining close ties with Somaliland while avoiding diplomatic fallout with Somalia. For Hargeisa, this dynamic presents a challenge: how to protect its sovereignty agenda without losing leverage in regional negotiations dominated by Ethiopia’s strategic interests.
President Cirro, who has emphasized diplomacy and stability since taking office, now faces mounting pressure to clarify his government’s stance on the MoU and the broader trajectory of Somaliland’s foreign relations.
Conclusion:
Despite positive rhetoric, the Addis Ababa meetings appear to have yielded no breakthrough. Ethiopia remains focused on securing sea access, while Somaliland continues to seek international recognition — two goals that remain at odds for now.
Unless clearly redefined, the question of recognition and maritime access will likely persist as a strategic fault line in the Horn of Africa’s shifting geopolitical landscape.
Hornpost staff Reporter
Hargeisa, Somaliland
