Wednesday 14 jun 2026 {HMC} Ethiopia’s intelligence chief, Redwan Hussein, made an unannounced visit to Somalia on Tuesday, holding closed-door talks with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud as tensions continue to simmer across the Horn of Africa.

Hussein met the Somali president at Villa Somalia, where he delivered a message from Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, according to sources familiar with the meeting. The contents of the message were not disclosed, and neither government issued an official statement on the visit.

advertisements

During his trip, Hussein also held discussions with Mahad Salad, director of Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency, at the agency’s headquarters in Mogadishu. Details of those talks were likewise not made public.
The visit comes at a sensitive moment in regional diplomacy, following Israel’s announcement on Dec. 26 that it had recognized Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state, a move that has heightened diplomatic friction and made Israel the only country to formally recognize the breakaway region.

Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but has not been recognized by the international community. Israel’s decision to recognize the region has drawn widespread condemnation from Somalia, African and Arab states, and multilateral organizations, including the African Union and the Arab League.

Relations between Somalia and Ethiopia have also been strained by Ethiopia’s search for maritime access. In January 2024, Addis Ababa signed an agreement with Somaliland granting it access to the port of Berbera, prompting Somalia to accuse Ethiopia of violating its sovereignty.

The dispute was later eased through Turkish mediation, culminating in the Ankara Declaration signed in December 2024. Under the agreement, Somalia and Ethiopia committed to pursuing bilateral arrangements that would allow Ethiopia access to the sea under Somali sovereign authority.

Analysts say Hussein’s quiet visit underscores the continued sensitivity of Somali-Ethiopian relations, as well as the growing complexity of regional diplomacy amid competing interests involving ports, security cooperation and shifting alliances in the Horn of Africa.

Wednesday 14 jun 2026 {HMC} Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi Irro, on Tuesday urged African and Arab countries to recognize Somaliland, arguing that the region has earned international acceptance and should no longer be overlooked following Israel’s decision to formally recognize it.

Speaking at a consultation meeting with former foreign ministers at the presidential palace in Hargeisa, Irro said Somaliland is seeking international partnerships based on mutual understanding and respect, and insisted that recognition by other states is inevitable.

“After Israel’s recognition, other countries will also recognize Somaliland,” the president said, adding that only those unfamiliar with Somaliland’s diplomatic efforts were surprised by the move.

Irro thanked the Israeli government for its decision before turning his appeal to Islamic and African nations, saying they should have been at the forefront of recognizing Somaliland’s claim to statehood.

“You were expected to lead in supporting the Somaliland cause,” he said. “But even if others have gone ahead of you, the door is still open. Do not abandon the recognition of Somaliland. We seek relations based on mutual respect and mutual interests.”

He argued that Somaliland has demonstrated its ability to govern itself and protect its sovereignty, and said countries that value those principles should support its bid for recognition.

The president also drew a sharp line between what he described as Somaliland’s friends and adversaries, calling on citizens to unite in the face of what he said was mounting pressure from opposing states.

“There is now a clear distinction between countries that are enemies of Somaliland and those that are its friends,” he said, urging national unity.

The remarks were made during a closed-door consultation attended by eight former Somaliland foreign ministers, part of what officials described as an effort to consolidate diplomatic strategy following Israel’s recognition.

Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 after the collapse of the central government and has since operated as a de facto state, with its own institutions, elections and security forces. However, it has not been recognized by the international community.

Israel’s decision to recognize Somaliland last month has triggered sharp condemnation from Somalia’s federal government and strong opposition from African and Arab states, as well as multilateral organizations including the African Union and the Arab League, which reaffirmed their support for Somalia’s territorial integrity.

Source Hiiraan online