MOGADISHU — Ethiopia’s intelligence chief, Ridwan Hussein, engaged in private, high-level discussions with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Tuesday, just hours after arriving in the Somali capital. The visit comes only a day after the Somali government announced a decisive termination of all agreements with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
While the specific details of the talks remain confidential, sources indicate the dialogue centered on the escalating geopolitical tensions in the Horn of Africa. Hussein reportedly conveyed a personal message from Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to President Hassan Sheikh, signaling Addis Ababa’s keen interest in the developing situation.
In addition to his meeting with the President, Hussein is scheduled to hold talks with Somalia’s intelligence director, Mahad Salad, to address security cooperation and broader regional stability.
A History of Mediation? Ethiopia, which maintains a close strategic alliance with the UAE, has previously attempted to bridge the divide between Mogadishu and Abu Dhabi. In 2018, during the administration of President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed (Farmajo), Addis Ababa sought to mediate when Somalia severed ties with the Gulf state over accusations of interference in its internal affairs.
Regional Speculation It remains uncertain whether Ethiopia is once again positioning itself to facilitate dialogue between Somalia and the UAE, potentially at Abu Dhabi’s behest. However, the swift arrival of one of Prime Minister Abiy’s most trusted advisors in Mogadishu, immediately following Somalia’s annulment of the UAE pacts, has led Somali analysts to speculate that Addis Ababa may be playing a critical role in managing the fallout of this diplomatic rupture.
