ARUSHA (SD) – Somalia responds to Kenyan President William Ruto’s announcement that he is working to facilitate talks between Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Currently, there is a severe conflict between the leaders of these two countries.

The Somali Federal Government’s Ambassador to Tanzania, Ilyas Ali Hassan, stated that Somalia welcomes regional leaders’ efforts to maintain peace, security, and stability in the Horn of Africa.

The ambassador also emphasized that Somalia’s stance remains unchanged, asserting that Ethiopia must nullify its agreement with Somaliland and respect the unity and sovereignty of the Somali people.

“Somalia’s position remains unchanged: the January 1, 2024, agreement must be nullified, and Somalia’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity must be respected,” said Ambassador Ilyas.

Previously, Turkey’s attempt to mediate talks between Somalia and Ethiopia to resolve their dispute failed. The conflict remains challenging to resolve due to the stringent conditions set by both sides.