Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has affirmed that relations between Mogadishu and neighboring Ethiopia remain strong, stating that his government harbors no objection to Addis Ababa securing commercial sea access through joint port agreements.

Ethiopia has lacked a direct coastline since Eritrea gained independence in 1993, forcing the nation to rely heavily on Djibouti for its external trade. 

While a memorandum of understanding signed between Addis Ababa and Somaliland in January 2024 sparked sharp sovereignty protests from Mogadishu, both nations have since stepped back from the brink to ease regional tensions and stabilize diplomatic ties.