The head of Ethiopia’s National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS), Redwan Hussein, made a surprise visit to Mogadishu, amid heightened diplomatic tensions in the Horn of Africa.
Redwan Hussein delivered a special message from Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. The meeting took place at the Villa Somalia presidential palace, shortly after the Ethiopian delegation landed at Mogadishu airport.
Media sources say that the contents of the message have not been officially announced, and there has been no official statement from the Somali and Ethiopian governments so far.
While in Mogadishu, Redwan Hussein also met with the Director of the National Intelligence and Security Service of Somalia (NISA), Mahad Salad, at the NISA headquarters. The details of the discussions were not disclosed.
The surprise visit comes after a meeting last week in Djibouti between Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh, indicating that there are hidden diplomatic efforts related to the difficult situation in the region.
This issue also coincides with a diplomatic crisis resulting from Israel’s move to recognize Somaliland, which the Federal Government of Somalia strongly opposed, as Somaliland is part of Somali territory.
