MOGADISHU (KAAB TV) – The weak government of Somalia has on Thursday announced to have expelled the Ethiopian ambassador to Mogadishu a day after a delegation from Puntland State visited Addis Ababa and met Ethiopian foreign ministry.
Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it has informed the Ethiopian ambassador Mukhtar Mohamed Ware to leave within 72 hours.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Federal Republic of Somalia, in light of recent developments and in adherence to the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, announces the initiation of several diplomatic measures,” the Somali Foreign Ministry said.
“This decision follows the resolution passed by the Council of Ministers in response to the actions of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, which infringe upon Somalia’s sovereignty and internal affairs,” it adds.
During midday on Thursday, the Ethiopian Ambassador, Ware, was observed meeting Somali officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in Mogadishu, where sources indicated that he had been informed about the decision to depart from Mogadishu.
Besides its embassy in Mogadishu, Ethiopia maintains two additional diplomatic offices in Hargeisa and Puntland.
But it is not clear how in reality the Somali government in Mogadishu, without the approval of authorities in Somaliland and Puntland, can implement its decision to close down the Ethiopian consulates in Hargeisa and Garowe.
Somaliland declared its independence in 1991, though it is not internationally recognized.
Puntland, a federal member state, has announced that it does not recognize the federal government in Mogadishu as legitimate.
On Wednesday, a high level ministerial delegation from Puntland visited Addis Ababa.
The delegation led by Puntland’s Minister of Finance, Mohammed Farah Mohammed received warm welcome by the Ethiopia State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Mesganu Arga.
According to Ethiopia’s Foreign Ministry, a meeting took place in the Foreign Affairs Ministry building in Addis Ababa on Wednesday.
During their discussions, the two delegations delved into collaborative opportunities spanning trade, investment, energy cooperation, and joint infrastructure projects, aimed at fortifying and expanding the bonds between Ethiopia and Puntland, a statement from Ethiopia Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
Ethiopia as a security provider in Somalia
Ethiopia serves as a significant security provider for populations in Somalia, with its forces participating in the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and others stationed outside the mission securing major cities and towns within Somalia against attacks carried out by the militant group Al-Shabaab.
Recently, Addis Ababa concluded a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Somaliland in January of this year, granting Ethiopian forces access to the Red Sea through Somaliland’s territory.