In a significant step toward strengthening the strategic partnership between Somaliland and Ethiopia, Brigadier General Nimaan Yusuf Gaaxnuug, Commander-in-Chief of the Somaliland National Armed Forces, held high-level talks today with Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, his Ethiopian counterpart, in Addis Ababa.
The discussions, attended by Jama Mohamoud Egal, Director of the Somaliland Intelligence Agency, and Somaliland’s Ethiopia envoy, Ambassador Adan Gedi Qayaad, focused on bolstering bilateral security cooperation along the two nations’ extensive shared border.
The meeting emphasized joint strategies to combat transnational threats, enhance intelligence sharing, and safeguard peace in the volatile Horn of Africa region.
“This collaboration is vital for our mutual stability,” Brigadier General Gahnuug told Horn Tribune following the talks, highlighting the importance of unified efforts to address challenges such as illicit trade and arms smuggling.
Field Marshal Jula echoed these sentiments, praising Somaliland’s role as a reliable partner in regional security and committing to expanded joint patrols and training exercises.
The talks are part of a broader diplomatic offensive led by Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi Irro, who is currently on a two-day working visit to Ethiopia.
President Irro’s itinerary includes meetings with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to discuss critical bilateral issues, including the 2024 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on maritime access, with key details yet to be finalized.