Friday June 28, 2024
Spokesperson of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia says accusation from Somalia baseless (Photo File/PD)
Ethiopia on Thursday said that Somalia’s accusation that Ethiopian soldiers crossed the Somalian border is “baseless.” Last week, Somalia accused Ethiopian troops of crossing the Somalian border without authorization from the Somali Federal government.
Somalia formally filed an allegation at the United Nations through its Ambassador, Abukar Dahir Osman.
It said Ethiopian troops outside of the African Union peacekeeping mission in the country crossed the border. Somalian sources cited authorities from Hiran Region – towards which the Ethiopian troops allegedly crossed – estimating the number of soldiers between 3000 and 4000.
BBC Amharic cited Nebiyu Tedla, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia as saying that Ethiopia has only troops in Somalia deployed under the African Union Peacekeeping Mission and bilateral agreements.
“Transborder operation was not undertaken,” BBC Amharic quoted him as saying. He added that there was a discussion with senior Ethiopian Defense Force Commanders leading the operation in Somalia and that it is confirmed there was regular training in the event of impending danger. Changing military camps, moving around troops and the movement of other military supplies are not unusual practices, according to the spokesperson. It is also confirmed, according to the report, that Ethiopian Peacekeeping Forces recently had such movements.
The spokesperson also reported that the Federal government of Somalia has no control outside of Villa Somalia.
Relations between Ethiopia and Somalia soured after the former signed a memorandum of understanding with Somaliland – a breakaway region in the north – signed a memorandum of understanding.
In February 2024, Somalia’s government accused Ethiopia of “provocation” on the alleged grounds that there was an attempt to block Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud from entering the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa. For several weeks before that, the president has been on a campaign to mobilize diplomatic and military support against Ethiopia in connection with the memorandum of understanding between Ethiopia and Somaliland.
In April 2024, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud government ordered the closure of Ethiopian Consulates in Somaliland and Puntland – an order that was rejected by the latter.
If finalized and implemented, the agreement with Somaliland would give Ethiopia a 20-kilometer stretch of coastal land in Somaliland on a 50-year term in exchange for Ethiopia’s recognition for the independence of Somaliland. However, there is no sign of progress and Ethiopia on Wednesday this week warned the public not to be confused by what it calls “fake” news regarding the memorandum of understanding with Somaliland.