MOGADISHU (Kaab TV) – Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud made an unannounced visit to Asmara, the Eritrean capital, on Wednesday, where he was received at the Asmara airport by President Isaias Afwerki.
The visit comes just days after a Somali delegation traveled to Addis Ababa for discussions with Ethiopian officials, following the Ankara Declaration brokered by Turkey which tends to ease the tension about the Somaliland-Ethiopia MOU.
The deal, aimed at ending a maritime dispute between Somalia and Ethiopia, has sparked concerns among regional powers.
The Ankara agreement has drawn suspicions from Eritrea and Egypt, both of which view Ethiopia’s potential access to the Red Sea as a violation of their previous understanding with Somalia.
Eritrean Foreign Ministry advisor Abdulkadir Idris told BBC Somali that the agreement undermines Somalia’s sovereignty and risks destabilizing the region.
Eritrea has warned of potential diplomatic fallout, describing the deal as “hasty and poorly conceived.”
Idris expressed frustration with Somalia’s rapid acceptance of the agreement, which he claimed jeopardizes existing alliances.
Tripartite Alliance of Somalia, Eritrea, and Egypt
The Ankara Declaration establishes technical committees to address maritime issues, with a deadline for resolution set for mid-2025.
As part of the deal, Ethiopia will contribute troops to the African Union’s new AUSSOM mission, scheduled to begin operations in Somalia next year.
The agreement has heightened tensions within the Tripartite Alliance of Somalia, Eritrea, and Egypt, which was formed to counter Ethiopia’s ambitions for Red Sea access.
Eritrea and Egypt view Ethiopia’s demand to get access to the Red Sea as a threat to regional stability.
Somalia has also signed a series of defense and military agreements with Egypt, Eritrea, and Turkey, many of which remain undisclosed.
Egypt has provided arms and equipment to Somalia, further straining Somalia’s relationship with Ethiopia.
Egypt also says it will contribute troops to an African Union Somalia peacekeeping mission.