The government of Somalia has taken a bold step in asking Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Somalia, Muktar Mohamed Ware, to return to Addis Ababa for consultations. In addition, Somalia has closed Ethiopia’s consulate offices in Hargeisa, the capital city of Somaliland, and in the semi-autonomous Puntland state. This move comes amidst rising tensions over a port deal and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Ethiopia and Somaliland on January 1st.
The MoU, which granted Ethiopia access to the sea for a leased military base in exchange for recognition for Somaliland, has been met with strong opposition from Somalia. Somalia has stated that the MoU violates its sovereignty and territorial integrity, leading to the closure of the consulate offices and the recall of the Ethiopian ambassador.
Despite the diplomatic fallout, efforts are being made to mediate the situation. Ambassador Mesganu Arga of Ethiopia’s State Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently welcomed a senior ministerial delegation from Puntland led by Minister of Finance, Mohammed Farah Mohammed. The discussions focused on collaborative opportunities in trade, investment, energy cooperation, and joint infrastructure projects to strengthen ties between the two regions.
The meeting between the Ethiopian delegation and Puntland officials has been seen as provocative, especially following Puntland’s decision to withdraw recognition of the federal government of Somalia and President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. Puntland’s criticism of Mogadishu’s decision to amend the federal constitution has further strained relations between the regions.
Despite the tensions, Puntland officials maintain regular contact with senior members of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces to discuss cross-border security issues and combat terrorist groups like Al-Shabaab. The recent meeting between President Said Abdullahi Deni, Vice President Ahmed Ilmi Osman Karash, and Ethiopian army officials focused on security cooperation and the fight against terrorism.
The Ethiopian Consulate General in Garowe emphasized the importance of security cooperation in dealing with common threats to stability and security in the region. While the situation remains tense, diplomatic efforts are ongoing to find a resolution that respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all parties involved.
