Somali president Hassan Sheikh begins first Ethiopia trip

As KON reported early, the president will mend ties with the nighbouring country which has a heavy military presence and influence in Somalia.

News Keydmedia Online
28 September 2022

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia - President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud begins his final leg of a four-nation tour on Wednesday, in the first trip of his new term as he seeks to boost Somalia's relationship with the Horn of Africa region.

The president arrived in Addis Ababa at the start of a two-day official visit to Ethiopia. PM Abiy Ahmed along with finance minister Ahmed Shide accorded a cordial reception to Mohamud at the airport.

It's the first time Hassan Sheikh visiting the nighbouring nation since becoming President in May 2022. As KON reported early, the president will mend ties with Ethiopia which has a heavy military presence and influence in Somalia.

PM Abiy Ahmed has had a close friendship with former Somali president Mohamud Abdullahi Farmajo, the predecessor of Hassan Sheikh. Addis Ababa lowered ties after the president’s Egypt visit.

The trip by Hassan Sheikh to Addis Ababa comes amid a bitter dispute between Egypt and Ethiopia regarding the construction of the mega-dam at the Blue Nile River.

Farmajo who ruled Somalia between 2017 and 2022 signed a security cooperation deal with Abiy Ahmed and Eritrea's dictator Afwerki in late 2018 as the three leaders agreed to make an alliance.

At his inauguration, Hassan Sheikh pledged to make Somalia peace with itself and the world. He visited Kenya, Djibouti, Eritrea and now Ethiopia to warm up the relations and cooperation.

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