Arusha, Tanzania – Kenyan President William Ruto announced on November 30, 2024, that leaders from Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda are set to convene in a bid to reduce tensions in the Horn of Africa. Speaking at the 24th Ordinary Summit of the East African Community (EAC) Heads of State in Arusha, where he assumed the role of the new chairperson of the regional bloc, Ruto did not provide a specific date for this proposed meeting.
If the summit proceeds, it would mark the first direct engagement between the leaders of Ethiopia and Somalia since the contentious Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between Ethiopia and Somaliland on January 1, 2024. This agreement has been a source of significant diplomatic friction, with Somali officials maintaining that there will be no direct talks with Ethiopian leaders unless the MOU is revoked.
The planned meeting comes at a time when the stability of the Horn of Africa is under scrutiny, with regional politics and security issues at the forefront of discussions. The initiative reflects an effort to foster dialogue and resolve ongoing disputes that have strained relations in this geopolitically sensitive region.
The summit is seen as a move to strengthen regional cooperation and address security challenges, including the fight against terrorism and the management of cross-border conflicts. The announcement was made as regional leaders also discussed broader issues of trade, sustainable development, and peace at the EAC summit.
