The Diplomatic Ballet of Villa Somalia: A Tale of Two Trips

As I strolled along the vibrant Bole Street en route to Skylight Hotel for a midday reprieve, Addis Ababa unfolded before me like a city in symphonic rebirth. The meticulously crafted sidewalks gleamed under the midday sun, a testament to Ethiopia’s relentless ambition and swift transformation. Yet amidst this urban marvel, my gaze was drawn not to the modern architecture or bustling street life, but to a massive welcome board, its bold proclamation impossible to miss: “Welcome to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.” It was a statement as grand as it was symbolic – a reminder to every passerby that a leader of stature was arriving. This wasn’t just hospitality; it was diplomacy writ large, a city singing praises for a president whose presence mattered.

Later, seated at my table in the illustrious Skylight Hotel, that towering welcome board lingered in my thoughts like a melody refusing to fade. But as I scrolled through Villa Somalia’s press release, the harmony shattered. There it was – Kampala elevated to a diplomatic masterpiece, while Addis Ababa, with all its grandeur, was buried beneath a mountain of perfunctory lines. The carefully choreographed pomp of Ethiopia’s capital, a city that had rolled out its finest for President Hassan, was reduced to a mere footnote. The dissonance was stark, the contradiction glaring. My appetite vanished, replaced by the need to write. And so, as the absurdity of mismatched narratives unraveled before me, my pen took flight to weave this satire – a tale of selective memory, fragile egos, and diplomatic theater gone awry.

Villa Somalia, it seemed, had decided to crown Kampala the centerpiece of its narrative. The CAADP summit, with its verdant conference halls and international sheen, became the backdrop for grand declarations of “regional solidarity” and “visionary leadership.” The President’s agricultural agenda was elevated to a beacon of hope, his role as a statesman cast in bold strokes. Yet in the shadows of this carefully polished narrative stood Addis, neglected, diminished – a city whose vibrant streets had proclaimed a diplomatic welcome that Villa Somalia chose to ignore.

But Addis doesn’t whisper – it roars. Ethiopia’s grand gestures were unmistakable, a diplomatic overture for all to see. And in this silence from Villa Somalia, one critical truth was forgotten: Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is not merely a politician but a seasoned intelligence officer, a master strategist who doesn’t play games – he rewrites them. Every handshake and every quiet word exchanged in Addis was part of a meticulously calculated play, one where Abiy always stayed several steps ahead. By the time President Hassan reached Kampala to trumpet his agricultural triumphs, the real narrative had already been sealed in Addis. Abiy had secured his leverage – be it acquiescence to Ethiopia’s regional vision or silent agreements behind closed doors.

Perhaps, lurking in the backdrop of this saga, was Ahmed Madobe’s shadowy exit from Hassan Sheikh’s orbit. His quiet disembarkation from the President’s proverbial train may have been the domino that set this political capitulation into motion. And while history may debate whether Madobe deserves credit for this twist, the cost is undeniable. What remains is the image of a nation helmed by a leader stumbling through the corridors of power, unsure of his footing. The alliances fractured, the trust eroded, and the narrative disjointed – this is the portrait of a captain lost at sea with no compass to guide him.

As the dust settles, one wonders if President Hassan Sheikh will face a reckoning not from his adversaries but from his own allies. What happens when both foes and friends tire of the confusion, the contradictions, and the crumbling narratives? Will they, in unison, utter the final indictment of his leadership: “Sorry, we can’t trust you.” For trust, once lost, is a currency no leader can afford to squander, and in the theater of East African politics, it may very well be the only currency that truly matters.

And so, this tale of two trips is a stark reminder that diplomacy, like satire, demands coherence, integrity, and precision. Villa Somalia’s delicate ballet sought to sidestep reality, to elevate one visit while silencing another. But in doing so, they underestimated the streets of Addis, the shadow of Ahmed Madobe, and the quiet brilliance of Abiy Ahmed. The pen watches, the streets speak, and the truth – irresistible and unrelenting – always has the final word.

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Mohamud A. Ahmed – Cagaweyne

+251900644648

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