DJIBOUTI (SD) – Somali intellectuals, politicians, and traditional leaders from the Horn of Africa gathered in Djibouti on Monday for a three-day forum focused on strengthening regional stability.

The annual forum, now in its eighth year, was organized by the Heritage Institute for Policy Studies based in Mogadishu. Mursal Saney, the director general of the institute, stated that the forum provides an opportunity for Somalis from different regions of the country to discuss their issues.

This year’s forum coincides with increasing tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia over a port agreement signed in January between Addis Ababa and Somaliland, a region that has declared independence from Somalia. Mogadishu considers Somaliland as part of Somalia.

The agreement, still in the form of a memorandum of understanding, grants the landlocked Ethiopian government a 50-year lease of the Red Sea ports from Somaliland in exchange for recognizing Somaliland’s independence. This deal has angered Mogadishu, which sees it as an attack on Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Ethiopia insists that it is not violating Somalia’s sovereignty.

Moumin Hassan Barre, Djibouti’s Minister of Justice and Religion, stated that the experts participating in the forum should contribute to the well-being of the region.

Somalis from across the Horn of Africa are participating in the event, along with members of the diaspora from the United States, Europe, and other places.