By Horn Africa News Staff | Mogadishu
The President of Somaliland administration , Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi (Cirro), is scheduled to travel to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital, in the coming days to hold high-level talks with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, according to Somaliland’s Presidential Office.
The upcoming meeting is expected to focus on bilateral relations between Ethiopia and Somaliland, as well as a review of a previous understanding reached between the two sides in 2023—reportedly regarding Ethiopia’s access to the Red Sea through Somaliland’s coastline.
Somaliland’s Minister for Presidential Affairs, Khadar Hussein Abdi, confirmed the planned visit in a recent interview, stating that both parties would re-evaluate the terms of last year’s preliminary agreement. However, he declined to confirm whether President Cirro would officially sign a finalized deal during his visit to Addis Ababa.
This development comes amid the collapse of the Ankara talks between Somalia and Ethiopia, which had sought to ease tensions sparked by Ethiopia’s controversial deal with Somaliland earlier this year. The failure of those talks—reportedly due to deepening mistrust—has stalled any further diplomatic engagement between Mogadishu and Addis Ababa.
At the heart of the dispute is Ethiopia’s demand for autonomous control over a portion of Somaliland’s coastline to establish a naval base—something Somalia sees as a clear violation of its territorial sovereignty. Ethiopia has rejected Somalia’s proposal to access ports through negotiated arrangements without seizing control of land, and has instead intensified its pursuit of a lease agreement with Somaliland.
Sources now reveal that Prime Minister Abiy has quietly resumed backchannel negotiations with Somaliland’s leadership, aiming to revive the controversial sea access deal. Although the full breakdown of the Ankara Process was never publicly announced, insiders acknowledge that it effectively ended during the Global Transport Connectivity Forum held in Istanbul from June 27–29.
Despite regional and international criticism, Ethiopia remains adamant about implementing the deal with Somaliland. Meanwhile, Somalia federal government is mobilizing strong diplomatic resistance, accusing Addis Ababa of violating its national unity and engaging in activities that could destabilize the Horn of Africa further.
President Cirro’s visit could reignite tensions across the region as observers closely watch whether Ethiopia and Somaliland will move forward with a deal that many consider legally and diplomatically explosive.
