ARUSHA (SD) – The leaders of Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda are planning to hold a meeting to reduce tensions in the Horn of Africa region between Somalia and Ethiopia, as announced by Kenyan President William Ruto.

While speaking in Arusha, Tanzania, Ruto made this statement as the new chairman of the East African Community during the 24th ordinary summit of the heads of state of the member countries.

Ruto did not specify the date of the planned meeting. If confirmed, it would be the first direct meeting between the leaders of Ethiopia and Somalia since Addis Ababa signed a controversial memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Somaliland on January 1, 2024, which has not yet been implemented.

Somali leaders have insisted that there will be no direct meeting with Ethiopian leaders unless the MOU with Somaliland, which stipulated the exchange of territorial waters and recognition between the two sides, is annulled.