Friday October 18, 2024
Somaliland’s Foreign Minister, Dr. Essa Kayd, alongside key officials, lays the foundation stone for Somaliland’s new embassy in Addis Ababa. This symbolic act, marking a significant diplomatic step, was attended by dignitaries as the breakaway region continues to deepen its ties with Ethiopia amidst rising regional tensions. CREDIT/ MFA Somaliland
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (HOL) — Somaliland’s Foreign Minister, Dr. Essa Kayd, took a bold step on Wednesday by laying the foundational stone for what they said would be the breakaway country’s new embassy in Addis Ababa. Ethiopia’s government donated the land, symbolizing the deepening diplomatic relations between the two countries. The move will likely exacerbate the already tense relations in the Horn of Africa.
While the event was widely celebrated in Somaliland, Ethiopia’s government has remained noticeably silent. Neither the Ministry of Foreign Affairs nor state broadcasters in Ethiopia have formally confirmed the embassy’s establishment.
Somalia, which claims Somaliland as part of its territory, did not issue an official statement regarding the breakaway region embassy in Addis Ababa.
The embassy’s construction comes on the heels of a controversial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in January between Ethiopia and Somaliland. The agreement reportedly grants Ethiopia a 50-year lease on 20 kilometres of Somaliland’s coastline and allows Ethiopia to establish a naval base. In return, Ethiopia has indicated the possibility of recognizing Somaliland’s long-desired independence—a move Somalia sees as a direct violation of its sovereignty.
Somalia responded sharply to the MoU, expelling Ethiopia’s ambassador, Muktar Mohamed Ware, and ordering the closure of Ethiopian consulates in Somaliland’s capital, Hargeisa, and in Puntland’s capital, Garowe. Somaliland and Puntland rejected the order, with Somaliland specifically asserting its independent governance over diplomatic relations. “This decision does not concern us,” stated Roda Elmi, Somaliland’s Deputy Foreign Minister, stressing that Somalia’s directives have no legal bearing on Somaliland’s foreign policy.
Despite the diplomatic row, Ethiopia’s consulates in Hargeisa and Garowe remain operational. In May, Somaliland claimed that Ethiopia had upgraded its consulate in Hargeisa to full embassy status, a claim that Addis Ababa did not officially confirm, underscoring Addis Ababa’s delicate balancing act. Ethiopia’s engagement with Somaliland remains largely unofficial, allowing it to cultivate its strategic interests in the breakaway republic.
However, the appointment of Ambassador Teshome Shunde Hamito to Hargeisa signals Ethiopia’s commitment to elevating its diplomatic presence in Somaliland.
Somaliland’s Information Minister, Ali Mohamed Hassan, confirmed the diplomatic shift, describing the upgrade as “a significant milestone in our bilateral relationship with Ethiopia.” He also hinted at further developments, noting that the embassy’s establishment was only the first step in a broader political and economic collaboration.
Ethiopia’s deepening relationship with Somaliland has raised concerns beyond the Horn of Africa. Somalia has accused Ethiopia of attempting to annex Somali territory under the pretext of securing sea access. “Ethiopia’s actions are not only a breach of our sovereignty but also a destabilizing force in the region,” Somalia’s Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre warned during his United Nations General Assembly speech.
In August, Egypt provided military aid to Somalia for the first time in four decades, a move perceived by Ethiopia as a direct challenge to its influence in the region. Egypt, already locked in a tense dispute with Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), sees Ethiopia’s growing influence in Somaliland as part of a broader regional power play. Beyond military aid, Cairo has actively strengthened its diplomatic and economic ties with Mogadishu, as exemplified by a recently ratified defence agreement and plans to boost bilateral trade.
In response to Egypt’s rapidly developing ties in Somalia, Somaliland issued a strongly worded statement criticizing Egypt’s presence in the region, accusing Cairo of attempting to destabilize the Horn of Africa. Tensions flared further when Somaliland authorities ordered the closure of an Egyptian-owned library in Hargeisa, a symbolic move that analysts interpreted as retaliation for Egypt’s increasing cooperation with Somalia’s federal government. Cairo, in turn, responded by urging Egyptian nationals to leave Somaliland, citing deteriorating security conditions.
Efforts to mediate the escalating tensions have made little progress. Two rounds of peace talks brokered by Turkey in Ankara have failed to produce a resolution, and a third round scheduled for September was postponed indefinitely. Ethiopia remains steadfast, with Foreign Minister Taye Atske-Selassie defending the MoU at the United Nations, claiming that the MoU enhances regional development. “Our memorandum with Somaliland aligns with the political realities in Somalia. We aim for shared growth and stability in the region,” he stated.
Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, also addressing the UN, issued a forceful condemnation, linking Ethiopia’s actions to its broader disregard for international norms. “Ethiopia’s unilateral decisions not only violate international law but also threaten the stability of neighbouring states,” Abdelatty said, referencing Ethiopia’s handling of both the GERD and the Somaliland agreement.
Observers worry that the diplomatic chess game continues to threaten to upend the geopolitical situation in the Horn of Africa. Ethiopia’s potential recognition of Somaliland could redraw the region’s political map, with unpredictable consequences for both Somalia and its neighbours. For now, the foundation stone laid in Addis Ababa is a reminder of the shifting alliances and unresolved tensions that continue to shape the region’s future.
Source link : https://www.hiiraan.com/news4/2024/Oct/198520/ethiopia_silent_as_somaliland_lays_foundation_for_embassy_in_addis_ababa.aspx
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Publish date : 2024-10-18 06:24:56
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