Somali Regional State President Mustafa Arrives in Kenya

Somali Regional State President Mustafa Arrives in Kenya

Nairobi, Kenya — May 16, 2025

President Mustafa Omer of Ethiopia’s Somali Regional State, also known as the Ogaden region, arrived in Nairobi today for a three-day visit to Kenya. His visit marks a new chapter in regional cooperation and engagement, highlighting growing ties between Ethiopia’s Somali region and neighboring communities across the border.

President Mustafa, a reformist leader and former humanitarian worker, is scheduled to attend a major cultural festival in Garissa County on Saturday. The event is expected to bring together Somali communities from across Kenya and Ethiopia to celebrate shared heritage, music, and traditions.

Since taking office in 2018, President Mustafa has been widely praised for his transformative leadership in a region long marred by conflict and repression. Under his administration, the Somali Regional State has seen a significant opening up of civic space. Independent media now operate freely in the region for the first time in its history, and improved security and investment policies have positioned the region as an emerging hub for trade and development.

The Ogaden region had endured decades of violence, marginalization, and human rights abuses under previous Ethiopian regimes. However, the political shift that brought Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to power in 2018 also ushered in a more decentralized and inclusive approach to governance. Prime Minister Abiy’s government has maintained a relatively hands-off stance toward the internal affairs of the Somali region, allowing President Mustafa to chart a new course rooted in transparency and development.

During his stay in Nairobi, President Mustafa is expected to hold consultations with members of the Somali diaspora, many of whom have strong familial and economic ties to the Ogaden region. He is also scheduled to meet with Kenyan business leaders and political figures to discuss opportunities for cross-border investment, trade, and cooperation in infrastructure and cultural exchange.

Observers see the visit as both symbolic and strategic, reinforcing a broader regional push for stability and economic integration in the Horn of Africa.

President Mustafa’s visit underscores a continuing shift from the politics of isolation and conflict toward a vision of connected, cooperative regional governance.