Somalia: Prepare yourself for self-defence, ex-premier tells Somalis

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Somalis should prepare themselves for self-defense amid rising tensions with Ethiopia, opines former Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, noting that the 'enemy' will not knock to alert them when the war starts following a controversial deal between Ethiopia and Somaliland.

Ethiopia signed a clandestine agreement with the breakaway region of Somaliland, which if implemented, would see Addis Ababa get 20 kilometers of Red Sea in return for recognition of Somaliland as a sovereign state.

So controversial has been the deal that Somalia has accused the Horn of Africa nation of 'illegal annexation' and even threatened to go to war with Ethiopia. Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has refused to meet Ethiopia PM Abiy Ahmed.

During an interview with a local YouTube channel, Sharmarke, who hails from Puntland, said Abiy Ahmed is determined to divide Somalis. Sharmake cautioned against underestimating Abiy Ahmed's intentions, emphasizing Ahmed's possibility of initiating a war on Somalia.

The former Prime Minister asked the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to reject requests by Ethiopia to have a meeting to discuss Addis Ababa's row with Mogadishu. Ahmed maintains that he is not interested in 'grabbing' Somalia's land.

In a related development, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, just a day ago, reiterated that Somalia would not participate in mediation talks with Ethiopia until Addis Ababa retracts from the illegal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) it signed with the breakaway region of Somaliland on January 1.

Ethiopia is keen to establish a military base in the Red Sea besides building a new port that would serve her interests. Currently, the country relies on the Port of Djibouti, Port of Sudan, and Lamu Port in Kenya for imports and exports.

GAROWE ONLINE