MOGADISHU, Somalia — President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia has declined an invitation to meet with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in Beijing, China, sources said.
The decision comes amidst ongoing tensions over a controversial memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Ethiopia and the breakaway region of Somaliland, which Somalia views as a breach of its sovereignty.
Efforts by leaders from Djibouti and Mauritania, alongside the African Union’s special envoy and former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, to mediate the situation have not borne fruit.
These diplomatic interventions were aimed at facilitating talks between Somalia and Ethiopia. Still, Somalia’s federal government has maintained its stance against direct negotiations with Ethiopia unless Addis Ababa revokes the MoU with Somaliland.
The MoU, signed earlier this year, involves Ethiopia gaining access to the sea through Somaliland’s coastline, potentially in exchange for future recognition of Somaliland’s independence.
This agreement has been a point of contention, with Somalia accusing Ethiopia of attempting to annex part of its territory, leading to heightened diplomatic tensions in the Horn of Africa.
President Mohamud’s refusal to engage in talks in Beijing underscores Somalia’s firm position on the matter, highlighting the complexities of regional politics and the ongoing challenge of maintaining national integrity in the face of strategic geopolitical maneuvers.
