Somalia's President Heads to Ethiopia Amidst Regional Tensions

Somalia, 21 January 2026 Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is expected to travel to Addis Ababa on Thursday to attend the 90th anniversary celebration of the Ethiopian Air Force, which will be held from January 23 to 27. According to sources close to both governments, Somalia's President and the Ethiopian Prime Minister are expected to hold a bilateral meeting. Agenda items may include the possibility of Ahmed mediating between Hassan Sheikh and United Arab Emirates President Mohammed bin Zayed, following Somalia’s decision to cancel bilateral agreements with Abu Dhabi. Ethiopia maintains close ties with Israel and the United Arab Emirates and has signed various agreements with the two Middle East countries. Analysts say the visit, which is President Hassan Sheikh’s ninth trip to Ethiopia in just three years and eight months of his second term, is tied to the issue of Israel’s recognition of Somaliland and comes ahead of the African Union summit scheduled for early February in Addis Ababa.