Somalia expels Ethiopian ambassador, orders closure of two consulates for blunt interference in internal affairs

Somalia has expelled Ethiopia’s ambassador in Mogadishu and ordered the closure of two consulates — one each in the semi-autonomous Puntland region and the breakaway Somaliland region — in a dispute over a port deal.

The decision followed a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Hamza Barre in Mogadishu.

A statement by Somalia’s foreign ministry said it had ordered Ethiopian Ambassador Muktar Mohamed Ware to leave the country within 72 hours, effective Thursday April 4, 2024.

“Nowadays Ethiopia has been repeatedly violating Somalia’s national, territorial independence. Therefore, the government has taken this decision to close two Ethiopian consulates and send [the] Ethiopian ambassador in Mogadishu and their diplomatic staff back to their country,” said Aweis.

“The plain interference of Ethiopia’s government in the internal affairs of Somalia is a violation of the independence and sovereignty of Somalia,” said the office of Somalia’s prime minister in a statement yesterday Thursday.

Earlier in the year, there were disputes over a maritime deal between the breakaway region of Somaliland and Ethiopian which raised series of tensions.

The foreign ministry was then tasked by cabinet to ask the Ethiopian Ambassador to return to his country for consultations. Furthermore, Somalia’s government ordered for the shutdown of Ethiopia’s consulates in Somalia and a departure of Ethiopian diplomats and staff within a period of two weeks.

In an interview with VOA Somali, Somalia’s information minister, Daud Aweis Jama, said the decision came as Ethiopia continued to interfere in Somalia’s internal affairs.

According to Puntland, it would no longer recognize federal situations over the constitution approved by parliament.

Since signing the pact between Ethiopia and Somalia, tensions have been on the rise.

Tensions have been growing between Ethiopia and Somalia since January, when Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed signed “a memorandum of understanding” with Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi, who had been visiting Addis Ababa.

Both Ethiopia and Somaliland authorities described it as a “historic” initial agreement that would give Somaliland a path to recognition and allow landlocked Ethiopia to have access to the Red Sea.

The MOU between Somaliland and Addis Ababa gives the landlocked country long-sought sea access.

In the MOU, Somalia agreed to lease 20 kilometers for 50 years, which wants to set up a naval base and a commercial port on the coast. In return, Ethiopia is to give formal recognition to Somalia although this is yet to be confirmed by Ethiopia.

Somalia’s state minister for foreign affairs, Ali Omar, on X said, “Somalia stands firm on its sovereignty! In light of Ethiopian interference in our internal affairs, we’ve demanded Ethiopia’s ambassador leave within 72 hours & are closing consulates in Hargeisa & Garowe.”

Molly Phee, a top US diplomat for Africa called on the two nations to iron their differences so as to communicate better.

Source: www.france24.com , www.voanews.com