Ethiopia, Somalia leaders expected to visit Hargeisa

The prime minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed, is lobbying Somaliland’s government to allow the president of Somalia to visit Hargeisa in the coming days. If his attempt succeeds, this will mark the first time Somalia president visits Somaliland in over three decades….

Abiy Ahmed had requested to come visit Somaliland along with Somalia’s president, Mohamed Abdillahi Farmajo on multiple occasions. 

This was confirmed today by the speaker of Somaliland’s House of Elders Suleiman Mohamoud Adan.

The shocking development comes barely a week after the heads of states of Somaliland and Somalia met in Addis Ababa. The meeting took place at the office of Ethiopia’s prime minister. 

Both the governments of Somaliland and Somalia confirmed the meeting without giving out many details. 

So far, Somaliland’s government has not commented on the Ethiopian request or whether it had accepted. 

However, the speaker of the House of Elders, Suleiman Mohamud Adan said the president of Somalia is not welcome in Hargeisa. He added that the government had in the past rebuffed the entreaties of Abiy Ahmed to bring Farmajo to Hargeisa. 

However, the speaker added, that if the Ethiopian prime minister insists on bringing with President Farmajo, they will not extend official reception to the later. He stressed that they will receive him as a member of the Ethiopian delegation. 

A Farmaajo visit to Hargeisa will mark the first time a Somali president visits Somaliland in thirty-two years.