No amount of harassment will stop me from defending Somalia, IIhan Omar says
-
Staff Reporter Garowe Online
- Posted On 30-01-2024, 07:39AM
WASHINGTON - Ilhan Omar has defended her stance on the deteriorating relationship between Somalia and Ethiopia, insisting that she will not be swayed by harassment triggered by her critics on social media.
For the last two days, the Somalia-American lawmaker has insisted that Ethiopia went overboard by signing an agreement with Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia, arguing that the move infringes rights and privileges of Somalia as a sovereign state.
Despite the criticism, Omar says she will work closely with Somalis in the diaspora to defend the country from external aggression being mounted by Ethiopia, a landlocked country in the Horn of Africa. She accused Ethiopia of harboring annexation thoughts.
"It’s not only slanted but completely off, but I wouldn’t expect more from these propagandists. I pray for them and their sanity. No nation-state can survive if its states start to get involved in land lease negotiations with other countries without the consent of the federal government," she said.
"Somalis in Somalia and the diaspora are united in that effort and I stand in solidarity with them. No amount of harassment and lies will ever change that. Somali people are called Somalis, not “Somalians”. If you are gonna talk about us at least try to get our ethnicity right. Thank you."
Ethiopia signed an agreement which if implemented, would see it getting 20 kilometers of Red Sea for the next 50 years in exchange for Somaliland’s international recognition. The Horn of Africa nation intends to establish a Naval Base and port for commercial and security gains.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed says that he does not intend to annex any part of Somalia, but insists on 'pursuing Ethiopia's interests'. Ms. Omar was born in Somalia before moving to the United States having had a brief stint in Kenya. She was first elected to Congress in 2018.
GAROWE ONLINE
