Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed held a bilateral meeting in Antalya, Turkey, where they discussed Somalia’s security situation, regional developments, and the imperative of strengthening bilateral relations.
This meeting, which took place on November 11, 2026, ahead of the COP31 global leaders’ summit, comes as the Horn of Africa faces political and security dynamics requiring regional inter-state cooperation.
The Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) reported that both leaders exchanged perspectives on Somalia’s security environment and broader regional trends. In a post on his X platform, Abiy Ahmed emphasized that the meeting focused on sustaining dialogue and bilateral cooperation to advance regional peace and stability.
Official statements issued following the session indicate that Somalia’s security landscape served as the primary agenda item for both heads of state.
Somalia remains engaged in active counter-insurgency operations against Al-Shabaab, with the Federal Government executing military offensives targeting the group while working to enhance security force capacity and administrative stabilization in newly liberated territories.
Ethiopia has long participated in Somalia’s security architecture, maintaining troops on the ground and contributing to African Union mission operations.
Consequently, security consultations between the two leaders are vital to bilateral diplomatic relations and broader regional security planning.
However, the meeting report provided no details indicating that the parties concluded a new military pact, reached decisions on Ethiopian troop posture levels, or finalized a specific operational framework.
The Antalya meeting also occurs following a challenging period in Somalia–Ethiopia relations, triggered by the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Ethiopia and Somaliland in January 2024.
That agreement sparked a diplomatic rift, with the Somali Federal Government condemning it as a violation of national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Somalia firmly opposed any initiative granting Ethiopia maritime access or a military naval base without explicit authorization from the Federal Government of Somalia.
Those tensions ultimately prompted Turkish-mediated diplomatic negotiations held in Ankara in December 2024.
During those talks, the leaders agreed to the Ankara Declaration, which reaffirmed mutual respect for sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity while establishing technical dialogue mechanisms to resolve underlying disputes.
The Antalya consultations demonstrate that both governments maintain diplomatic communication channels despite historical disagreements.
For Somalia, bilateral relations with Ethiopia depend strictly on upholding state sovereignty, territorial integrity, and formal inter-state frameworks.
For Ethiopia, engagement with Somalia remains essential for border stability, counter-terrorism coordination, and strategic interests in the Horn of Africa.
Both nations share mutual interests in countering insurgent networks, securing shared borders, and promoting regional trade and alignment.
Nevertheless, no new agreements or formal schedules for subsequent bilateral talks were announced following the Antalya session.
The fact that the meeting between Hassan Sheikh and Abiy Ahmed took place within Turkey underscores Ankara’s diplomatic role in facilitating dialogue between the two nations.
Turkey previously hosted the talks leading to the Ankara Declaration, and this meeting illustrates that Somali and Ethiopian leadership continue to utilize direct engagement opportunities on shared strategic interests.
However, the Antalya session was not framed as a formal Turkish-mediated mediation over a new dispute, but rather occurred while both leaders were present in Turkey ahead of the COP31 summit.