President William Ruto of Kenya has announced that he and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni would intervene to mediate in the ongoing dispute between Ethiopia and Somalia, a conflict that risks destabilising the Horn of Africa region.
The dispute centres on Ethiopia’s plans to build a port in the Somaliland region, a move that has angered the Somali government. Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991 and has maintained peace and stability, is seeking international recognition. In exchange for the port, Ethiopia could potentially offer recognition to Somaliland as an independent state.
Ethiopia has a significant military presence in Somalia, fighting al-Qaeda-linked insurgents, but the tensions over the port have escalated. The situation has prompted Somalia to strengthen ties with Egypt and Eritrea, both of which have longstanding disputes with Ethiopia.
President Ruto highlighted the importance of Somalia’s security for regional stability, noting that a peaceful and stable Somalia would benefit the region, particularly in terms of attracting investment and supporting business growth.
Despite multiple failed attempts at resolving the issue, including efforts in Ankara, Turkey, Ruto expressed hope that the mediation by Kenya and Uganda would bring fresh momentum to the process.
The Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud met with Ruto and Museveni during a regional summit, but no official statement was made regarding the mediation talks. Somalia’s Foreign Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi said that past resolutions from regional leaders had been ignored by Addis Ababa, but he remains optimistic that ongoing mediation by Turkey could eventually yield positive results.
At the time of writing, Ethiopia’s government had yet to comment on the mediation offer.
