Written by Ismail Qodax
The meeting between Djibouti, Somalia, and Ethiopia in Jigjiga was driven by several key reasons, reflecting the complex political, security, and economic dynamics of the Horn of Africa:
Regional Security Coordination
One of the main goals was to enhance cooperation on regional security issues. The Horn of Africa region has been facing significant security threats, including cross-border terrorism, instability, and shifting alliances. The leaders discussed ways to align their security strategies and respond collectively to evolving threats in the region. On top of these tensions, Somaliland recognition has brought a new factor of geopolitical shift that Shaked Djibouti monopoly on the Ethiopian export and import and the demise of the failed state of Somalia that has been distorted the card of territorial integrity. Historically and legally, Somaliland gained its independence on June 26, 1960, and after five days it joined Somalia on July 1, 1960: consequently, Somaliland is not secessionist country. In 2005, the AU fact finding visited Somaliland and concluded that the people opted to reinstate its territorial integrity in 1991.
Economic Cooperation and Infrastructure Development
The summit focused on advancing economic ties, with an emphasis on boosting cross-border trade, infrastructure, and investment among the three nations. Ethiopia, being landlocked, relies heavily on Djibouti’s ports for trade but has expressed the need for diversified and cost-effective access to the sea. There was specific discussion about integrating economic development efforts with security cooperation to promote overall stability and growth
Somaliland has integrated than Somalia. For example, Ethiopia has gained million dollars of its own currency from Somaliland every day and the usage of Berbera port will reduce the burden of Djibouti’s ports.
Maritime Access and Port Politics
Recent tensions arose from Ethiopia’s move to strike a port access deal with Somaliland (a region Somalia claims as part of its territory), igniting concerns over sovereignty and regional stability. The meeting comes as Ethiopia seeks alternatives to the (costly) use of Djibouti’s ports, and Somalia and Djibouti look to safeguard their own strategic and economic interests while counterbalancing Ethiopian ambitions. Moreover, Berbera is seeing in the eyes of actors of superpowers and middle powers as crucial parameter to determine the outcome of geopolitical and strategic of Horn of Africa.
Deepening Diplomatic Engagement
Somalia, in particular, used the summit as an opportunity to reinforce its unity and sovereignty through diplomatic engagement with its neighbors, while Djibouti and Ethiopia worked to manage tensions and avoid further deterioration in relations. Additionally, the diplomatic isolation of Somaliland has been broken due to the Isreal recognition on December 26, 2025.
Joint Development Projects:
The Jigjiga meeting also included the launch of the Aysha-II Wind Power Project, a significant renewable energy initiative aimed at fostering regional energy cooperation and economic integration. This project exemplifies how joint investments can help deepen interdependence and anchor economic ties between the countries.
In Summary:
The summit in Jigjiga was a response to shifting political alignments, economic pressures (notably Ethiopia’s quest for affordable seaport access), and security challenges across the Horn of Africa. It underscored the region’s need for integrated strategies uniting security, economy, and diplomacy to maintain peace and mutual growth. The losers in this development are Guelle and Hassen Sheik and the winners are Cirro and Abiy.
