By Asho Elmi - Reporter
Djibouti, 11 January 2026- Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed arrived in Djibouti on Sunday for a 24-hour working visit, held under the banner of strengthening friendship and cooperation between the two neighbouring nations.
The visit, confirmed by both leaders, comes at a critical juncture for the Horn of Africa as regional powers navigate shifting alliances and maritime security concerns.
Writing on social media platform X, Abiy said his discussions with President Ismail Omar Guelleh focused on "geopolitical dynamics, regional peace and security, and strengthening bilateral cooperation, particularly in trade, logistics, and development."
"Our discussions... reaffirmed our shared commitment to stability, economic integration, and mutual prosperity," the Prime Minister added.
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According to the Djibouti government, Abiy was received at the airport by President Guelleh with full honours, including a performance by the Republican Guard. The Ethiopian leader is accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Minister of Foreign Affairs Birhanu Tsegaye, Minister of Finance Ahmed Shide, and National Security Director General Redwan Hussein.
The two leaders held an initial session in the airport's VIP lounge to review partnerships between what the Djibouti government described as "two nations with complementary economies." The exchanges aimed to instill "sustained momentum" in strategic cooperation programs across all sectors of sustainable development.
Ethiopia, a landlocked nation of over 120 million people, relies on Djibouti’s ports for more than 95 per cent of its maritime trade. The meeting occurs as Addis Ababa continues to seek diversified sea access, a pursuit that has recently strained ties with other neighbors in the region.
The talks also take place against a backdrop of increased diplomatic activity in the Horn, including Israel's formal recognition of Somaliland as an independent state and also Djibouti’s recent energy agreements with Egypt—a country currently at odds with Ethiopia over the management of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
