Somalian President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud visited the capital city of Ethiopia, Addis Adaba and met with Prime Minister Taye Atske Selassie with smiles and hugs. However, critics have noted that the Ethiopian President potentially tried to humiliates the Somali President by welcoming him with a salute by the Ethiopian navy.
Somalia is engaged in a dispute against Ethiopia over its recognition of the break-away state, Somaliland which declared independence from Somalia in 1991. Ethiopia recognised Somaliland in exchange for access to the sea via Port Berbera. Prime Minister Taye Atske Selassie noted that discussions with the Somalian President over bilateral relations were positive.
Ethiopia has access to up to a stretch of 19KMof shore in Somaliland where it plans to build a navy, a decision which is opposed by Somalia. Somalia and Ethiopia came close to a military confrontation last year, as Egypt fanned the flames in the region over the Grand Renaissance Dam. Somalia and Eritrea are both allies of Egypt with ongoing disputes against Ethiopia. However, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan mediated talks between Ethiopia and Somalia last month in Ankara where he posed in a photo with the Ethiopian and Somalian leaders.
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