Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (left) speaking with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (French)

Somalia accused Ethiopia of trying to obstruct the delegation of its President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud from participating in the African Union summit, which took place yesterday, Saturday, in Addis Ababa.

The Somali Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement published by the official “Sona” agency, strongly condemned the Ethiopian government’s attempt to obstruct the Somali president’s delegation from participating in the African Union summit in Addis Ababa.

She noted that this measure violates diplomatic “protocols” and international and African traditions.

The Somali Foreign Ministry confirmed that this behavior is in addition to a series of wrong actions recently taken by the Ethiopian government, noting that the latter is the host of the African Union headquarters, and must treat all African leaders equally.

She explained that hosting the African Union is an honor and a privilege for Ethiopia, but pointed out that if the Ethiopian government fails to maintain this honor with appropriate decorum, it may be necessary to re-evaluate the location of the Union’s headquarters.

It is noteworthy that the Somali President arrived in Addis Ababa earlier, yesterday, Saturday, to participate in the African Summit, according to a statement issued by the Somali presidency.

The 37th Summit of the African Union began in Addis Ababa at the same time, and is scheduled to continue for two days, to discuss strengthening continental cooperation and developing the union, in addition to focusing on current issues of concern to the countries of the continent.

The Somali Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on the African Union to conduct an urgent and independent investigation into this act, which it described as “terrible,” in line with the Union’s protocols.

The Somali Ministry did not explain the measures taken by the Addis Ababa government to obstruct the participation of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's delegation in the summit.

So far, the Ethiopian authorities have not commented on these accusations made by Mogadishu.

Tensions escalate

At the beginning of last January, tensions escalated between Mogadishu and Addis Ababa. Because the Ethiopian government signed a memorandum of understanding with Somaliland, in preparation for establishing an Ethiopian military base, and leasing the port of Berbera on the Red Sea for 50 years.

The League of Arab States and many of its members, including Egypt, expressed their rejection of this agreement and affirmed Somalia’s sovereignty over its lands.

On January 6, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud announced the cancellation of the memorandum of understanding between the Ethiopian government and Somaliland.

Somaliland, which declared its secession from Somalia in 1991, acts as an independent administrative, political and security entity, despite not obtaining official international recognition.

The central government in Somalia is unable to impose its control over this region, as its leadership has not succeeded in regaining control over it so far.

On January 1, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed, and the President of Somaliland, Musa Bihi.

The memorandum stipulates that “landlocked” Ethiopia will be granted a 20-kilometre strategic corridor in the waters of the Gulf of Aden, in addition to a commercial port and a naval base for its naval forces.

In turn, Ethiopia is committed to recognizing Somaliland as an independent state, and allocating a share of Ethiopian Airlines to it.

Source: Al Jazeera + Anatolia