Addis Ababa (KAAB TV) –The Ethiopian government has nominated the representative in Hargeisa as a full ambassador to the Somaliland administration, while the Somali government has already ordered the closing of the Ethiopian consulate there.
In addition, the Ethiopian government’s consul or representative in Hargeisa has been upgraded to full ambassador, indicating that Ethiopia recognises Somaliland’s administration as an independent country.
On the other hand, Ethiopia’s President, Sahle-Work Zewde, recently appointed 24 ambassadors, among whom is the representative of Somaliland in Ethiopia, who has now been elevated to full ambassador.
Ten of the 24 chosen ambassadors are full ambassadors with full powers, while the remaining 14 are appointed solely as ambassadors.
Ambassador Delil Kedir Bushra, who was previously Ethiopia’s representative in Hargeisa, Somaliland’s capital, was among those given full ambassadorship.
Finally, the appointment of the full ambassador appears to indicate Ethiopia’s willingness to recognise Somaliland; it also comes at a time when the Somali government has ordered the closure of Ethiopian consulates in Hargeisa and Garawe.