Somaliland President Arrives in Addis Ababa – Ethiopia
Somaliland president – Muse Bihi Abdi – departed Hargeisa, the country’s capital, on a formal invitation from Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to travel to Ethiopia.
At Egal International Airport, the Ethiopian Prime Minister’s private aircraft was waiting for the president and his team.
Key cabinet members: ministers of Planning – Ahmed Mohamed Diriye (Toorno), Finance Development – Dr. Sa’ad Ali Shire, Education Dr. Ahmed Aden Buhane, and Trade and Tourism vice Chair – Muse Ibrahim Selef, accompanying President Bihi.
Furthermore, the presidential statement stated that the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr. Essa Keyd Mohamud, is in Ethiopia ahead of the delegation.
Despite receiving a formal invitation from Prime Minister Abiy, the presidency withheld information on the itinerary for the president and his team.
“Somaliland President Muse Bihi arrived here today,” Ethiopian Foreign Ministry tweeted.
Somaliland President Muse Bihi arrived here today. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H.E. Demeke Mekonnen received the president up on arrival at Bole International Airport. pic.twitter.com/cBlOhRBCdt
— The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of #Ethiopia 🇪🇹 (@mfaethiopia) December 31, 2023
“Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H.E. Demeke Mekonnen received president Bihi up on arrival at Bole International Airport.”
Following President Bihi’s very formal welcome, he and his entourage took a little break in the dignitary lounge before being brought to the presidential palace, where the president will remain during his visit.
This visit occurs a few days after he met with Hassan Sheikh, the president of Somalia, in Djibouti during a conference between the Federal Government of Somalia and Somaliland to discuss settling their long-running disagreement over Somaliland’s 1991 declaration of independence.
Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh currently serving as the chairman of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
Following this week’s resumption of talks between Somaliland and Somalia with the help of president Ismail Omer Geleh, Djibouti is demonstrating its increased diplomatic assertiveness and its commitment to a foreign policy that promotes good neighborliness and regional peace by hosting the parties involved in conflict in Sudan!
It seems that Djibouti has taken on the role of a major diplomatic hub in the area, replacing places like Ethiopia and Kenya.