Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed arrived in Djibouti’s capital, Djibouti City, on Sunday for talks with President Ismail Omar Guelleh, following a recent thaw in relations between the two countries. In a post on X, Abiy said he had been “warmly received” by Djibouti’s President Ismail Omar Guelleh, adding that their discussions covered geopolitical developments, regional peace and security, and closer bilateral cooperation, particularly in trade, logistics, and development. The visit comes amid regional tensions following Ethiopia’s agreement with Somaliland on access to the sea and Israel’s recent recognition of Somaliland, a move Djibouti has described as a threat to regional stability. He said Abiy’s visit was aimed at countering what he described as a growing Egyptian footprint in Djibouti following the Cairo-Djibouti port agreements. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, accompanied by a delegation, visited Djibouti’s Doraleh Multi-Purpose Port and Horizon Oil Terminal to observe operations supporting the handling of Ethiopian cargo.

Source: Ethiopian News January 11, 2026 13:44 UTC