Africa-Press. A trilateral summit bringing together Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh, and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was held on Saturday in Jijiga, the capital of Ethiopia’s Somali Region (Ogaden).
The summit focused on ways to enhance cooperation and coordination among the three countries on issues of common interest, with particular emphasis on expanding economic cooperation, developing connectivity and infrastructure projects, and strengthening joint coordination on security matters.
The meeting coincided with the inauguration of several development projects in Ethiopia’s Somali Region, including the Shabelle tourism project and the Ayesha wind power generation project. These initiatives form part of a broader package of development investments estimated at around $10 billion that the region has seen in recent years.
Promising investments
Among these investments is the launch of a fertilizer plant by Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote, expected to place Ethiopia among the top five fertilizer producers in Africa, as well as the inauguration of the Gode refinery, which will process raw gas extracted from the Ogaden Basin into petroleum products.
During the inauguration ceremonies, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said that the experience of Ethiopia’s Somali Region represents a model worthy of recognition, noting its successful transformation from a conflict-linked area into a dynamic development zone.
He explained that the region’s experience demonstrates that development is possible in any part of Ethiopia when a peaceful environment is available, describing the achievements as a major victory for the region’s people and leadership in moving from war toward stability and development.
For his part, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud stressed his country’s eagerness to be an active partner in energy-related projects implemented by Ethiopia, emphasizing that Somalia must start where others have left off, benefiting from Ethiopia’s long-standing experience in the sector.
Regional impact
He noted that Ethiopia’s energy projects extend beyond domestic benefits to include neighboring countries, helping to build a regional interconnection network that supports shared prosperity in the Horn of Africa.
Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh, in turn, said that developmental integration among the peoples of the Horn of Africa represents the most sustainable path toward regional stability and growth.
He added that the Shabelle tourism project goes beyond being a tourist facility, carrying a civilizational and developmental message by serving as a platform to showcase the cultural and historical richness of the Somali people.
Commenting on the summit, African affairs researcher Jaber Ali said that the visit by the presidents of Djibouti and Somalia—both of Somali ethnicity—to Jijiga amid broad popular engagement reflects a shift in the Ethiopian state’s perception of cross-border Somali rapprochement.
A model of stability
In remarks to Al Jazeera Net, he explained that this rapprochement is no longer viewed with caution as in the past, but rather as a strategic opportunity to enhance regional communication, within a vision that sees Ethiopia’s ethnic diversity as a source of regional strength and economic vitality, helping to build bridges of partnership with neighboring states.
Ethiopian political analyst Ali Omar said that Ethiopia’s Somali Region, historically associated with conflict and fragility, is now being presented as a model of stability and development after decades of neglect and marginalization.
He told Al Jazeera Net that relations between the region and the central government were traditionally based on close oversight and direct intervention, but over the past eight years have shifted toward an approach centered on building trust and granting greater administrative autonomy, contributing to calm, stability, and an environment conducive to attracting investment and implementing major development projects.
