Tuesday December 24, 2024
Addis Ababa (HOL) – Ethiopian government has denied Somali allegations that Ethiopian troops operating under the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) launched an attack on Somali National Army (SNA) forces in the Doolow district of the Gedo region.
In a statement released Tuesday, Ethiopia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed the accusations, describing them as baseless and instigated by unnamed elements to derail the normalization of relations between Ethiopia and Somalia.
"The allegation is not true," the statement read. It further claimed that third parties, intent on destabilizing the Horn of Africa, were behind the incident. These actors, the ministry stated, are perennial spoilers of peace in the region and should not be allowed to undermine the commitment of Ethiopia and Somalia to stability.
The Ethiopian government reiterated its dedication to strengthening bilateral ties with Somalia as expressed in the Ankara Declaration, which emphasizes collaboration and regional peace. "Ethiopia values and upholds its commitment to revitalize and deepen the fraternal relations between the two countries," the statement added, highlighting the ongoing efforts to bolster regional cooperation and partnerships.
The Somali government accused Ethiopian forces of launching a deadly attack on Somali forces stationed at an airstrip in Doolow around 10:00 a.m. The assault reportedly targeted three bases manned by the army, police, and the National Intelligence and Security Agency, causing fatalities, though no precise numbers were provided.
High-level discussions between Ethiopian and Somali officials are underway in Addis Ababa to advance the agreements reached during the Ankara Summit on December 11. Talks have focused on deepening bilateral ties and translating summit commitments into actionable strategies.