Somalia expels Ethiopia's ambassador in Mogadishu

MOGADISHU, Somalia - The government of Somalia expelled Ethiopia's ambassador in Mogadishu, officials said, in what appears to be a culmination of divisions created by Addis Ababa's decision to enter into an illegal agreement with Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia.

Ambassador Mukhtar Mohamed Ware has been ordered out of the country effective 'immediately' following a monumental agreement reached by the government, describing Ethiopia as a 'provocative' state. The two nations have been at loggerheads for the last three months.

The Horn of Africa nation ordered closure of Ethiopia’s Consulates in Hargeisa (Somaliland) and Garowe (Puntland) citing Ethiopia’s “interference” in the internal affairs of Somalia.

Addis Ababa, Mogadishu adds, has one week to close the consulates and evacuate all diplomats along with their workers who are still in the country.
If Ethiopian diplomats and workers at these two consulates don’t leave within one week Somalia threatens to take further action.

The cabinet approved the return of Ambassador Muktar Mohamed Ware to Ethiopia until 'consultations' are done. Ethiopia signed a controversial MoU with Somaliland which if implemented would see Ethiopia getting 20 kilometers of the Red Sea in exchange for Somaliland's recognition as a sovereign state.

On Wednesday, the State Minister of Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs met with a delegation from Somalia’s Puntland region, apparently without coordinating with the Federal Government of Somalia. Puntland, a state in Somalia, had also cut ties with Mogadishu over 'illegal' constitutional changes.

Ethiopia’s State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mesganu Arga met with Mohammed Farah Mohammed, regional Finance Minister of Somalia’s Puntland. Puntland has declared Mogadishu as 'hostile' and declared that it will operate as an independent state until Somalia drops the constitutional changes.

“The two delegations explored collaborative opportunities in trade, investment, energy cooperation, and joint infrastructure projects to bolster and broaden the ties between the two sides,” Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

Ethiopia and Puntland engaged in discussions about trade and investment in Addis Ababa, aiming to strengthen their economic ties. Puntland, a stable Federal State in northeastern Somalia, has a significant coastline and is looking to enhance its economic cooperation with Ethiopia.

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud signed the constitutional reviews which drastically reduced the powers of the Prime Minister besides introducing universal suffrage of polls. Somalia has struggled with internal democracy with Puntland decrying of lack of consultations throughout the process.

GAROWE ONLINE