Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — May 19, 2026 | Horn News Hub
The President of Ethiopia’s Somali Regional State, Mustafa Omer, said the regional government is committed to making the Jijiga Forum an annual platform for dialogue aimed at promoting peace, cooperation, and prosperity across the Horn of Africa.
Speaking at the opening of the Horn Inter Elite Dialogue in Jigjiga, Mustafa Omer described the Horn of Africa as a region with significant economic and strategic importance, while also facing complex security and political challenges that increasingly transcend national borders.
“The Somali Regional State is committed to make the Jijiga Forum an annual forum that will facilitate dialogue to chart pathways for achieving peace and prosperity in the Horn,” he said.
The forum brought together political leaders, diplomats, scholars, and policy experts from across the Horn of Africa to discuss regional peace, integration, and cross border cooperation.
In his remarks, Mustafa noted that the Horn of Africa occupies a strategic geopolitical position linking Africa, the Middle East, and Asia through the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Indian Ocean trade routes. He said the region possesses untapped economic potential, including opportunities in agriculture, energy, trade, and digital development.
At the same time, he acknowledged that the region remains vulnerable to recurring conflicts, instability, and humanitarian crises, arguing that these challenges require collective regional responses rather than isolated national approaches.
He emphasized that Jigjiga was a symbolic location for the dialogue, describing the city as a meeting point connecting Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti, and wider regional communities through trade, culture, and social ties.
Referring to past conflicts in the Somali region, Mustafa said local communities understand the practical meaning of peace and stability. He described peace as the ability for people to travel safely, conduct trade freely, attend school without fear, and maintain livelihoods across borders.
The Somali regional president also stated that communities with cross border cultural and social connections should be viewed as opportunities for regional cooperation rather than security threats.
He cautioned that the forum alone would not immediately resolve the region’s longstanding challenges, but expressed hope that the discussions would contribute new ideas and perspectives toward strengthening regional understanding and cooperation.
The event was hosted in Jigjiga with the participation of senior Ethiopian officials, including Abiy Ahmed and Tagese Chafo, alongside delegates from across the Horn of Africa.
