Kenyan President William Ruto announced Saturday that he and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni would mediate a growing dispute between Ethiopia and Somalia.
The disagreement centers on Ethiopia’s plan to build a port in Somaliland, a breakaway Somali region seeking international recognition since its self-declared independence in 1991.
Ethiopia’s potential recognition of Somaliland in exchange for the port has angered Somalia’s government, which views the region as part of its territory.
The dispute has pushed Somalia closer to Ethiopia’s regional adversaries, including Egypt and Eritrea, further complicating relations in the Horn of Africa.
Ruto emphasized the need for stability, stating, “The security of Somalia is crucial for the stability of our region and economic growth.”
Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud met Ruto and Museveni during a regional summit, though his office did not directly mention the mediation efforts.
Somali Foreign Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi expressed skepticism about Ethiopia’s commitment to past resolutions but voiced hope for Turkey’s ongoing mediation efforts.
Ethiopia has yet to comment on the latest developments, and previous attempts at resolving the conflict in Ankara have not yielded significant progress.
As tensions mount, Kenya and Uganda’s mediation could play a pivotal role in preventing further destabilization in the volatile region.
