Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed met with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Mogadishu on Thursday for talks building on an agreement reached late last year to reduce tensions between the two countries.

Following their meeting, the two leaders issued a joint communique in which they vowed to strengthen bilateral ties and boost diplomatic, economic and social cooperation, according to the state-run Somali National News Agency. The pair also agreed to “work together in advancing common interests, promoting peace and security, and deepening bilateral relations for the well-being of their citizens and the broader Horn of Africa region.”

According to the communique, both Ahmed and Mohamud welcomed the so-called Ankara Declaration, while reaffirming their “commitment to constructive dialogue and cooperation.”

Background: Tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia escalated over the past year after Addis Ababa signed an agreement with the breakaway Somali region of Somaliland in January 2024. The deal would give Ethiopia access to the Red Sea, at the port of Berbera, in exchange for recognizing Somaliland's independence.