Somalia: Hassan Sheikh refuses to meet Ethiopia's PM Ahmed in Beijing

MOGADISHU, Somalia - President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud reportedly declined to meet Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in Beijing, sources said, a contrast to routine sideline meetings in major global forums where bilateral ties are discussed.

Both leaders attended Forum on Africa-China Cooperation in Beijing and were sighted meeting several continental and world leaders separately. Previously, they held sideline meetings to strengthen bilateral cooperation between Addis Ababa and Mogadishu.

According to diplomatic sources, the two leaders failed to meet despite attempts to bring them together. Pleas from former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo were not enough to persuade Hassan Sheikh for a meeting with Abiy Ahmed.

Obasanjo, one of the eminent personalities of the African continent, has tried previously to have the two leaders on the table in vain. Hassan Sheikh insists on respect for Somalia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty all the time.

This marked Hassan Sheikh's second occasion to refuse to meet Abiy Ahmed. Earlier, Kenya's President William Ruto tried to have the two on the table in Nairobi, but diplomatic sources said the efforts were futile.

The diplomatic tension between Somalia and Ethiopia stems from Ethiopia's agreement to lease 20 kilometres of coastline from the breakaway Somaliland region in exchange for supporting its independence, a deal Mogadishu deems illegal.

Ethiopia maintains its stance to get access to the sea after the deal with Somaliland but Somalia says the move amounts to a violation of territorial integrity and sovereignty. Somalia has threatened military actions.

Turkey tried to bring the two countries to the negotiation table but Somalia has dismissed the efforts, noting that Ethiopia must first withdraw the agreement with Somaliland. In return, Ethiopia wants to recognise Somaliland as a sovereign state.

Through the Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Youssouf, Djibouti says it can give Ethiopia access to the sea through the management of one of its ports as a solution to the current impasse. Ethiopia is yet to give an okay to this significant proposal.

GAROWE ONLINE