Four months ago, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the President of the self-declared independent Somaliland, Muse Bihi Abdi, inked a memorandum of understanding in Addis Ababa.
This agreement, among other things, granted Ethiopia ownership of a port and recognized Somaliland as a sovereign state.
However, this move has sparked significant outrage and opposition in Somalia, which considers Somaliland as part of its own territory.
Last Thursday, Somalia declared that the Ethiopian ambassador must vacate Mogadishu within 72 hours, and the consular offices in Hargeisa and Garowe would be shuttered, with their staff required to depart Somalia within two weeks.
Somaliland, which considers itself autonomous, and Puntland, another semi-autonomous region, have both voiced their opposition to Somalia’s decision to close the consulates in Hargeisa and Garowe.
In response to Somalia’s actions, Somaliland and Puntland condemned the Somali government’s decision, asserting that they do not recognize the closure of the consulates.
“Regardless of the stance of the Mogadishu government, our consulate will remain operational,” stated Somaliland’s Deputy Foreign Minister Rhoda Eliseide in an interview with Reuters.
Similarly, Puntland’s Minister of Information, Mahmoud Aidid Drir, expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of Somalia’s resolution. “The decision taken by Somalia will not yield the desired outcome,” he told VOA’s Somali language service.
Ethiopia has thus far chosen not to comment on the escalating situation in Somalia.
Meanwhile, a delegation led by Puntland Finance Minister Mohammad Farah recently visited Addis Ababa to engage in discussions with Ethiopian authorities.
It’s worth noting that Puntland recently announced the severance of ties with the Federal Government of Somalia.
Shortly after this declaration, Puntland’s envoy embarked on visits to Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates.
This sequence of events underscores the complex diplomatic landscape in the Horn of Africa, with competing interests and alliances at play.
