MOGADISHU, Somalia – The President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, welcomed the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the United States, William Burns, in Mogadishu on Wednesday.
The two leaders discussed the regional issues and the mutual interests of both countries, as well as the enhancement of strategic cooperation in the areas of counter-terrorism and peace and stability in the region, according to a statement from the Somali presidency.
The meeting came amid rising tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia over a controversial deal that Ethiopia signed with Somaliland, a self-declared state that seceded from Somalia in 1991. The deal grants Ethiopia access to a 20-kilometre coastal strip in Somaliland for a commercial port and a military base in exchange for Ethiopia’s recognition of Somaliland’s sovereignty.
The Somali government has strongly rejected the deal, calling it a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity. The US government has also expressed its opposition to the deal, saying it could destabilize the region and undermine the international efforts to combat the militant group Al-Shabaab.
Burns’ visit to Mogadishu was part of his regional tour that also included stops in Kenya and Djibouti, where he met with the leaders and the intelligence chiefs of those countries.
