Mogadishu – Ethiopia’s Director of National Intelligence, Redwan Hussein, arrived in the Somali capital Mogadishu on Tuesday in an unannounced visit, carrying what officials described as an important message from Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, amid rising regional tensions in the Horn of Africa.

According to Somali officials, Redwan held talks with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud at the presidential palace, delivering the message on behalf of the Ethiopian leadership. Somalia’s presidency did not immediately disclose details of the message or the outcome of the meeting. However, diplomatic sources told Agence France-Presse that discussions focused on security cooperation, bilateral relations, and the broader regional situation.

The Ethiopian intelligence chief also held a separate closed-door meeting with Mahad Mohamed Salad, Director of Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA), at the agency’s headquarters. No official statement was released regarding the content of that meeting.

From a policy perspective, the timing and secrecy of the visit point to heightened security coordination between Mogadishu and Addis Ababa, as both countries navigate complex regional challenges. The engagement suggests an effort to manage sensitive security and diplomatic issues through intelligence channels rather than public diplomacy, reflecting the fragile and evolving dynamics of the Horn of Africa.