Somalia expels Ethiopian ambassador, accused of “interfering” in its internal affairs
Renewed tensions in the Horn of Africa between Somalia and Ethiopia. On Thursday April 4, Somalia ordered the expulsion of the Ethiopian ambassador and the closure of two of its consulates in the country. Mogadishu accuses its neighbor of openly interfering in its internal affairs.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud during a press conference at the AU headquarters, February 17, 2024. (illustrative image) AFP - MICHELE SPATARI
By: RFI Follow
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The Ethiopian ambassador to Somalia has 72 hours to leave the country, the Somali government announced on Thursday April 4. He also ordered Ethiopian representations in the two regions of Puntland and Somaliland to close within two weeks.
This announcement comes as the day before, the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs received a delegation from Puntland in Addis Ababa. A few days ago, Puntland announced that it no longer recognized the institutions of the Somali federal state. For Mogadishu, this meeting amounts to open interference by the Ethiopian government in Somalia's internal affairs.
Historically stormy relations between the two countries were further strained earlier this year, after
Ethiopia signed a memorandum of understanding with Somaliland
, a region which proclaimed itself independent in 1991, providing for leasing to Ethiopia with 50 kilometers of coastline and allowing Addis Ababa access to the sea and the construction of a military base. In exchange for this, Ethiopia would officially recognize the independence of Somaliland.
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