Somali President Faces Diplomatic Setback During Ethiopia Visit

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (Garowe Online) — Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud reportedly encountered a diplomatic setback during his recent visit to Ethiopia, according to credible diplomatic sources.

The visit, which was intended to persuade Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to allow Somali federal forces to deploy in Doolow — a strategic town along the Ethiopian-Somali border — ended without a formal response from the Ethiopian side. The proposed deployment was part of the Somali government’s broader objective to involve its troops in the ongoing conflict in Balad-Hawo between federal-aligned forces and those loyal to the Jubaland administration.

According to sources, Prime Minister Abiy’s silence on the request caused visible frustration within the Somali delegation. President Hassan was notably absent from the official group photograph taken during the closing session of the 2nd United Nations Food Systems Summit, held in Addis Ababa — an absence widely interpreted as a sign of dissatisfaction.

Doolow, a twin town straddling both Ethiopian and Somali territory, has long been under the security umbrella of Ethiopian forces since the outbreak of Somalia’s civil war. The town’s location has made it a key buffer zone in cross-border military dynamics.

Meanwhile, local reports from Doolow indicate that brief clashes erupted early Sunday after a federal-aligned Somali officer attempted to move toward the conflict zone in Balad-Hawo. Ethiopian forces stationed in Doolow reportedly blocked the movement, citing concerns over the possible escalation of hostilities in the Gedo region.

President Hassan’s visit to Ethiopia followed earlier diplomatic trips to Egypt, Turkey, and Djibouti. The timing has raised eyebrows in Addis Ababa, given the tense relations between Ethiopia and Egypt over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). Ethiopian officials are said to be uneasy with what they view as Villa Somalia’s growing alignment with Cairo, a position seen as lacking regional balance.

GAROWE ONLINE