MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Somalia’s presidential office has avoided naming Ethiopia or identifying the Somali Regional State in a statement describing a visit by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to the town of Jigjiga on Saturday, a move widely interpreted as diplomatically deliberate.
During the visit, President Mohamud met Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Djibouti’s President Ismail Omar Guelleh. Delegations from Djibouti and Kenya were also present for the inauguration of a large tourism complex designed to attract visitors and generate revenue for the Somali region of Ethiopia.
The omission is notable given President Mohamud’s comments in 2024, when he said Ethiopia occupies territory that is part of Somalia, referring to the Somali region now incorporated into Ethiopia’s national map.
Against that backdrop, the careful phrasing of the latest statement is seen as an attempt to exert diplomatic pressure, signalling that Mogadishu does not feel compelled to reaffirm Ethiopia’s sovereignty over the region if Addis Ababa continues to engage Somaliland independently in its efforts to secure maritime access.
The omission is also interpreted as a warning that Somalia could revisit its longstanding position on the Somali Region should Ethiopia move towards recognising Somaliland. Israel has already taken steps in that direction, while Ethiopia has largely remained silent as countries across the region condemned the move.
According to the presidential office, Mohamud and regional leaders in Jigjiga discussed security and the political situation in the Horn of Africa, with his government focusing on strengthening diplomatic efforts aimed at reinforcing Somalia’s unity and nationhood.
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