Farmaajo off to Addis as PM Abiy reportedly steps in in row with Kenya

President Mohamed Farmaajo departed for Ethiopia this morning barely two days after Kenya’s Uhuru Kenyatta left the Ethiopian capital amid reports the PM Abiy Ahmed could be in line to mediate on the simmering diplomatic rift between Mogadishu and Nairobi.

A tweet from Villa Somalia indicated the president jetted off to Addis Ababa upon invitation from Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

In what signaled a possible inclusion of Nairobi into the newly minted Horn of Africa club spearheaded  by Ahmed, Kenyattta landed in Asmara Sunday accompanied by the Ethiopia PM.

The HoA which has hitherto been comprised of Somalia, Eritrea and Ethiopia could also rope in Southern Sudan following the visit by both Afwerki and Ahmed to Juba Tuesday. In a joint statement from the meeting, the three leaders emphasized the need for ‘regional economic integration and shared prosperity’.

Relations between Kenya and Somalia have in the recent weeks hit an all-time low following accusations by Nairobi that Mogadishu had auctioned off oil blocks under its territory during the February 7 London trade conference. Somalia has however denied presenting maps within the contested area.