• Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is visiting Ethiopia to foster improved relations.
• The trip follows a recent peace agreement aimed at settling tensions between the two nations.
• Disputes over Ethiopia's plans for maritime access via Somaliland have created significant diplomatic strife.
• The Ankara Declaration, mediated by Turkey, serves as a foundation for ongoing collaborative efforts.
• The visit is being received positively, with public displays of support in Ethiopia.

In a significant move to address strained relations, Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is set to visit Ethiopia on Saturday. This visit comes on the heels of a peace agreement, the Ankara Declaration, reached last month in Turkey aimed at diffusing a long-standing maritime dispute between the two nations.

The backdrop to this diplomatic engagement involves Ethiopia's contentious agreements with the breakaway Somali region of Somaliland. Notably, a week earlier, Ethiopia had signed a memorandum of understanding that would ostensibly grant it access to a stretch of coastline in exchange for recognition of Somaliland's independence. This move incensed Somalia, which has accused Ethiopia of infringing on its sovereignty. The culmination of these tensions forced both nations to seek resolutions through diplomatic channels.

During his visit, Mohamud aims to engage with Ethiopian leaders, including Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, to build on their recent diplomatic agreement and advance shared objectives. Somalia's presidential office stated, "This visit builds on the recent agreement reached in Ankara," emphasizing a new era of cooperation focused on stability and regional collaboration.

As part of the diplomatic thaw, Ethiopia's Defense Minister made a key visit to Mogadishu earlier this month, the first since tensions escalated dramatically last year. The relationship between the two nations has seen a shift since the signature of the Ankara Declaration, which reaffirmed respect for each other's sovereignty and agreed to mutual commercial benefits.

Despite this optimism, essential questions remain over how the maritime access for Ethiopia will be practically implemented, as previous arrangements remain contentious. Egyptian and Eritrean foreign ministers recently convened with their Somali counterpart, expressing strong concerns over Ethiopia's actions in the region during ongoing political realignments.

With public displays of support visible in Addis Ababa ahead of Mohamud's arrival, including locally broadcast tributes to the Somali president, this visit could significantly impact the future relationship between these neighboring countries. The interaction and agreements made during this encounter are crucial in ensuring both nations progress towards collaborative solutions in the Horn of Africa's complex geopolitical landscape.

For further details, refer to the original articles from VOA News and Reuters.