Addis Ababa (HornCurrent) – Somali parliamentarian Abdulahi Kulane Jiis has drawn attention following reports of his recent activities in Eritrea and Ethiopia, sparking speculation about shifting political dynamics in the Horn of Africa.
Kulane, a former delegate of ex-President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo to Eritrea, is known for his involvement in the training of Somali soldiers in Asmara. He is also reported to have ties with Qatari and Egyptian security agencies, as well as a close association with Kenyan MP Farah Ma’alin.
According to sources, Kulane was in Eritrea last week with former Prime Minister of Somalia Said, his cousin, and former Mogadishu Mayor Thabit Abdi. A photograph circulated from that visit shows Thabit on the right and Said on the left; sources allege Kulane was also present when the image was taken. Observers suggest the meeting could be linked to a new political bloc being encouraged by Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki ahead of Somalia’s upcoming presidential elections.
Eyewitnesses in Addis Ababa have since reported seeing Abdulahi Kulane Jiis at Ethiopia’s Ministry of Defence headquarters. Independent confirmation of his visit, however, has not yet been established.
HornCurrent will continue to follow the story as developments unfold.
