Israel’s president visits Ethiopia amid Horn of Africa tensions
Israeli President Isaac Herzog is on a two-day official visit to Ethiopia as Jerusalem looks to strengthen its ties in the Horn of Africa.
Herzog arrived in Addis Ababa on Wednesday, February 25. Ethiopia’s President Taye Atske Selassie welcomed him at the Presidential Palace in Addis Ababa.
The visit comes weeks after Israel’s controversial recognition of Somaliland as an independent state. Herzog’s trip is viewed as part of Israel’s diplomatic engagement in the Horn of Africa.
There is speculation that Herzog may seek to convince Ethiopia to also recognise Somaliland. In 2024, landlocked Ethiopia signed an agreement with breakaway Somaliland to obtain access to the Bab El-Mandeb Strait in the Gulf of Aden by leasing a corridor from Somaliland for 50 years. However, Somalia asserted that Somaliland is part of its territory and rejected the agreement.
Other regional actors have expressed concerns about the recognition of the breakaway region. During a recent visit to Ethiopia, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: “I would like to emphasise that Israel’s recognition of Somaliland does not benefit Somaliland or the Horn of Africa.”
On the Middle East, Selassie told Herzog that Ethiopia supports a two-state solution to resolving the Israel-Palestine conflict "where Israelis and Palestinians live side by side in peace".
Herzog also referred to the Ethiopian Jewish community in Israel, stating that it creates a bridge between the two nations. In a statement upon his arrival, he said: “The relationship between our peoples is woven deep into the pages of history and human tradition. At the heart of the story of both our nations lies a clear common thread – the ability to join hands, unite resources of spirit and substance to innovate, develop, and grow for the benefit of all.”
Herzog’s visit is the first presidential trip to Ethiopia since 2018. He met with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Abiy said the two leaders discussed “ways to improve collaboration in areas of mutual interest", without providing further details.
The visit follows remarks by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proposing a network of allied nations in the Middle East and Africa to stand against what he described as “radical” adversaries. He said the proposed “hexagon of alliances” would include Israel, India, Greece, Cyprus, and others.
Iran and affiliated groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen are widely seen as the primary focus of this proposal.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
