(08-01-24) ASMARA (Halqabsi News) — President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud arrived in Asmara on Monday for a two-day working visit. The president, along with his delegation, was received with warm hospitality by Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki at the Asmara International Airport.
This high-profile visit is notably timed against the backdrop of rising tensions following the recent seaport agreement in Addis Ababa. On the first of this month, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi agreed on a deal that has sparked controversy and concern in Mogadishu. The agreement, which involves Ethiopia gaining access to the Red Sea through Somaliland in exchange for recognizing its independence, has been a point of contention for the Somali government.
In a bold response, just a day before he visited Asmara, President Mohamud signed a law that nullified the agreement made by the breakaway Somaliland region. This law essentially invalidates any deal that grants Ethiopia access to the Red Sea in return for acknowledging Somaliland as an independent entity. This move by President Mohamud is seen as a reaffirmation of Somalia’s stance on its territorial integrity and sovereignty.
The meeting between Presidents Mohamud and Afwerki is expected to focus on the diplomatic relationship between Somalia and Eritrea. Given the current regional tensions and the strategic importance of the Horn of Africa, the discussions are likely to extend to broader security and economic issues impacting the region.
Halqabsi News
