Somali lawmaker Daahir Amiin Jeesow has called for a clearer and more consistent foreign policy, warning that Somalia cannot simultaneously pursue conflicting positions while trying to maintain close relations with countries that are themselves engaged in regional disputes.
Using the Somali proverb, “A mouse and a cat cannot be kept in the same pocket,” Jeesow said Somalia must carefully balance its international relationships and ensure that its foreign policy is guided primarily by national interests.
“We want this country to have a stable and forward-looking policy,” Jeesow said, arguing that Somalia should avoid becoming unnecessarily drawn into disputes between other countries in the region.
He pointed to tensions involving Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan and Egypt, which are currently linked to a range of security, political, border and Nile water disputes. The tensions have intensified in recent weeks, including a deterioration in Ethiopia-Eritrea relations and growing disagreements between Addis Ababa and Cairo over the Nile and Ethiopia’s ambitions for Red Sea access.
Jeesow argued that Somalia would gain little from becoming deeply involved in conflicts between regional powers. He questioned what ordinary Somalis ultimately gain from foreign policies that lack a clearly defined direction and urged the government to prioritize national stability, security and the interests of its citizens.
“You Can Have Both Opposition and Allies”
Jeesow said international relations are based on clearly defined interests and that Somalia can maintain close partnerships with some countries while disagreeing with others.
“You can have opposition and allies,” he said, stressing that Somalia does not need to adopt the position of another country simply because it maintains friendly relations with that country.
His remarks come after the October 4 summit in New Alamein, Egypt, where the presidents of Somalia, Egypt and Eritrea and Sudan’s leader adopted a joint declaration covering regional security, sovereignty, the Nile and Red Sea affairs. The declaration emphasized respect for territorial integrity and called for adherence to international law on transboundary rivers, including the Nile.
Jeesow’s comments suggest that Somalia should ensure that such partnerships remain consistent with its own national interests rather than becoming part of broader regional rivalries.
Somalia and Its Neighbors
Jeesow also addressed Somalia’s relationship with Ethiopia, particularly following criticism from Addis Ababa after President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s visit to Egypt.
He stressed that Somalia needs constructive relations with all of its neighboring countries, particularly Ethiopia, Djibouti and Kenya.
“Regarding the neighboring countries with which we share borders—Ethiopia, Djibouti and Kenya—it is right to improve relations with them. Worsening those relations and crossing that line is not a solution,” Jeesow said.
His comments come amid heightened regional tensions, with Ethiopia facing disputes with several neighboring countries over security, Nile waters and access to the Red Sea.
The African Union has recently called on Ethiopia, Eritrea and Egypt to exercise restraint and resolve disputes through diplomatic channels.
Jeesow argued that Somalia should maintain good relations with its neighbors regardless of temporary political disagreements between governments.
The lawmaker said Somalia should develop a foreign policy that is stable, predictable and centered on national interests rather than following the policies of other countries.
He said the federal government should prioritize the Somali public, national security, political stability and constructive relations with neighboring states and the wider international community.
Jeesow’s remarks come amid broader debates in Somalia over the country’s foreign-policy direction, relations between the federal government and neighboring states, and how Mogadishu should position itself amid increasingly complex rivalries in the Horn of Africa.
He ultimately called for a foreign policy based on dialogue, stability and national interests, arguing that Somalia should avoid becoming unnecessarily entangled in regional conflicts while maintaining constructive relations with all of its neighbors.