MOGADISHU (Kaab TV) – Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, facing mounting local opposition and the looming threat of civil unrest in Jubbaland, is set to embark on an unplanned, urgent trip to Ankara, Turkey, on Tuesday, sources within Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs have confirmed.
Reports indicate that the visit will include face-to-face discussions with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, mediated by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Erdogan, who maintains close ties with both Addis Ababa and Mogadishu, is reportedly working to ease diplomatic tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia.
The strained relationship between the two countries stems from Ethiopia’s controversial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Somaliland, signed on January 1, which Somalia strongly opposes.
President Hassan Sheikh has previously refused to negotiate with Ethiopia, expelling Ethiopian diplomats from Mogadishu earlier this year in protest.
President Mohamud’s decision to meet with Abiy Ahmed marks a significant departure from his previous stance.
The Somali government had expelled Ethiopian diplomats and repeatedly rejected attempts at negotiation, insisting that Ethiopia must rescind the MoU before any dialogue could take place.
As tensions with Ethiopia escalated, Somalia sought support from Egypt, resulting in Cairo sending shipments of weapons to the Somali capital in the past months.
The meeting also comes at a critical time for Somalia, which is grappling with internal political turmoil.
The semi-autonomous Jubbaland state recently suspended relations with the federal government, becoming the second regional state to break ties with Mogadishu over disputes regarding local elections, further undermining the federal government’s authority.
Jubbaland Crisis Deepens
The federal government’s relationship with Jubbaland state has deteriorated further, following the disputed re-election of Jubbaland’s regional president, Ahmed Mohamed Islam Madobe, for a third term.
Mogadishu rejected the election, claiming it was conducted without federal oversight.
Jubbaland, often referred to as Somalia’s breadbasket, is of strategic importance due to its vital port city, Kismayo, and its proximity to a maritime zone contested with Kenya.
In response to Mogadishu’s opposition, Jubbaland suspended all relations and cooperation with the federal government.
The regional administration also issued an arrest warrant for President Mohamud, accusing him of human rights violations and other charges.
Tensions have escalated into armed conflict, with clashes erupting last week in the coastal town of Raaskaambooni near the Kenyan border.
The Somali Federal Government deployed Turkish-trained Gorgor and Haramcad elite units to the area, allegedly to counter Jubbaland forces loyal to Madobe.
Jubbaland, whose forces are predominantly drawn from the Ogaden sub-clan of the Darood, claims to be advancing against federal troops, primarily composed of the Hawiye clan.
The ongoing standoff has led to a blockade of Raaskaambooni, restricting air and road access and raising fears of violence spilling into Kenya.
Somaliland-Ethiopia Relations Bolstered
Meanwhile, Somaliland recently held a peaceful presidential election, with opposition leader Abdirahman Irro emerging victorious.
His inauguration is scheduled for later this week. Somaliland and Ethiopia are expected to proceed with the MoU after a promised review by the president-elect, signaling a strengthening of ties between Hargeisa and Addis Ababa.
The developments in both Jubbaland and Somaliland underscore the complex and volatile dynamics in the Horn of Africa, as Somalia grapples with internal divisions and regional disputes.