Borkena
Toronto – Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s government in Mogadishu is accusing Ethiopia of shipping firearms to Jubaland, a member of the federal government of Somalia in the south.
It said two Ethiopian planes entered Kismayo, a port city in southern Somalia, over the past few weeks, carrying illegal firearms.
The allegation came at a time when tensions between Jubaland and the federal government in Mogadishu were heightened. In the past few weeks, Jubaland issued an arrest warrant against Hassan Sheikh Mohamud after the Mogadishu government issued a similar warrant against Ahmed Madobe, who was recently re-elected as president of Jubaland for a third term.
Somalia also alleges that the planes flew Jubaland Deputy President Mahmud Seiyd Aden to Ethiopia. It sees Ethiopia’s actions as part of a move to destabilize the country by supporting armed groups and controlling the Gedo region.
According to a BBC Amharic report published on Monday, Somalia vowed to defend its territorial integrity if Ethiopia continues “violating” Somalia’s sovereignty and to take measures against individuals collaborating with the Ethiopian government.
Somalia has been accusing Ethiopia of territorial expansion moves after the latter signed a memorandum of understanding with Somaliland in January 2024. When the agreement is finalized, Ethiopia will gain 20 kilometers of coastal land on a rental basis for 50 years. What Somaliland is getting in return remains unclear, except for possible recognition as a free country—something Ethiopia has not yet confirmed.
Although Somaliland recently held its fifth general election, which was widely seen as democratic and fair, Somalia considers it an integral part of its territory. Somaliland rejects this claim and asserts its independence, which it declared in 1991 after breaking away from Mogadishu.
The tension between Ethiopia and Somalia has been mounting in various forms. Among other factors, it has provided Egypt with an opportunity to pursue its geostrategic interests in the region, playing on Somalia’s sovereignty concerns. In addition to Egypt, Eritrea has joined Somalia’s “sovereignty” cause. In October 2020, the three countries formed a tripartite agreement, but Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki recently denied that the alliance is anti-Ethiopian.
There were recent reports about the Kenyan government’s initiative to mediate between the two countries. Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced its acceptance of Kenyan-mediated talks. However, it remains unclear if Mogadishu—which has been demanding the revocation of the memorandum of understanding as a precondition for dialogue—has agreed to participate in the talks.
Ethiopia has not yet remarked on the latest accusations from Somalia.
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