Sunday 12,Jan. 2025{HMC}  The Governor of Banadir and Mayor of Mogadishu, Mr. Mohamed Ahmed Amir, hosted a meeting with the Italian Ambassador to Somalia, Amb. Pier Mario Daccò Coppi, at the Mogadishu City Hall. The discussion centered on strengthening bilateral relations and fostering a cooperative partnership between the two sides.

Mayor Amir expressed gratitude to the Italian government for its longstanding support to Somalia, emphasizing the deep historical ties between the two nations. The meeting also explored opportunities for collaboration between local governments in Italy and Mogadishu, with a focus on implementing developmental projects to empower youth.

Additionally, both parties discussed Italy’s potential role in the restoration of historic buildings in Mogadishu, contributing to the city’s development and beautification plans.

The discussions highlighted Italy’s commitment to supporting Somalia’s recovery through sustainable initiatives. The Mayor underscored the importance of partnerships that enhance the city’s infrastructure and improve the livelihoods of its residents, marking a step forward in fostering a stronger relationship between Mogadishu and Rome.

Sunday 12,Jan. 2025{HMC}   Somali federal government forces have officially taken over the Hiiran regional administration centers, including the Beledweyne district and the Lamagalaay military camp, which had been under the control of the Hiiran State administration for the past year.

Hiiran State administration officials, including Abdukadir Olow and Abdirashid Ilkacase, formally handed over these centers to federal government representatives following an agreement.

A federal government delegation led by Minister of Petroleum Dahir Shire Mohamed, National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) Director Abdullahi Mohamed Ali Sanbaloolshe, and Parliament members representing the Hiiran region attended the handover ceremony in Beledweyne town on Sunday.

Minister Dahir Shire Mohamed and NISA Director Sanbaloolshe assured the community that the federal government would prioritize inclusivity in governance and ensure the provision of federal services in Beledweyne. They urged local residents to support the government’s efforts to strengthen security and implement good governance, emphasizing that the administration centers will be rebuilt to serve the community’s needs.

As part of the transition, the Somali National Army (SNA) reopened critical roads in Beledweyne that had been closed since the federal parliamentary elections in February 2022. The prolonged road closures have disrupted the town’s movement of goods and vehicles.

Sunday 12,Jan. 2025{HMC}   Ethiopia and Somalia have agreed to restore and enhance their bilateral relations through full diplomatic representation in their respective capitals, the two nations have announced in a joint statement.

This agreement on Saturday follows Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s warm reception of Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, where the leaders held high-level discussions focused on strengthening relations and addressing mutual priorities.

In April 2024, Somalia expelled the Ethiopian ambassador amid the Somaliland port deal dispute and shut down Addis Ababa’s consulates in Hargeisa as tensions mounted, until the dispute was resolved through the Türkiye-brokered Ankara Declaration.

The two leaders also stressed the importance of their diplomatic missions closely cooperating in multilateral and regional forums on issues of shared interest, according to the statement.

Reiterating their commitment to the Ankara Declaration, they agreed to expedite the technical negotiations outlined in the agreement.

The Ankara Declaration

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s visit to Ethiopia marks his first official trip since Türkiye-mediated talks resolved long-standing disputes between the two countries.

“This visit builds on the recent agreement reached in Ankara. This renewed cooperation underscores a new era of collaboration between Somalia and Ethiopia,” said a statement from the Somali Presidency, Villa Somalia.

The dispute between Ethiopia and Somalia originated in January 2024, when Ethiopia signed an agreement with Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland to use the Red Sea port of Berbera. Since then, Türkiye has actively mediated to ease tensions between the two nations.

The Ankara Declaration was reached last December during talks hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, with Somali and Ethiopian leaders in attendance.