Somalia’s Foreign Minister Accuses Ethiopia of Exploiting Counterterrorism Efforts to Seize Somali Land
Mogadishu (AX) – Somalia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ahmed Moalim Fiqi, sounded a sharp critique, pointing fingers at the Ethiopian government. He claimed they are masking a land grab under the guise of fighting terrorism.
At a United Nations Security Council gathering on Friday, Fiqi revealed that Somali authorities had thwarted attempts of Ethiopian-origin arms sneaking into Somalia. They believed these weapons were meant to stir the local pot, which he labeled as a “shameless breach” of Somalia’s independence.
The diplomatic dance between Somalia and Ethiopia has taken a frosty turn since Ethiopia sealed a deal with North Western State of Somalia on January 1, 2024. The Memorandum of Understanding hands Ethiopia access to the sea and greenlights a military garrison in North Western State of Somalia. Somalia sees this as a direct challenge to its territorial wholeness.
Minister Fiqi didn’t hold back, stressing the urgent need to bolster homegrown counter-terrorism strides. He sees widening the reach of local governance and humanitarian outreach to areas freed from militants as vital. Fiqi restated Somalia’s commitment to team up with the United Nations, zeroing in on regional stability through collaboration at all levels.
Al-Shabaab has been locked in a bitter struggle against Somalia’s government and the African Union’s Transition Mission in Somalia since 2007. This mission, a multifaceted endeavor, is both sanctioned by the African Union and blessed by the UN Security Council.
The extremist faction has ramped up its onslaught following Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s fiery declaration of an “all-out war” on the insurgents.
Edited by: Ali Musa
Axadle international–Monitoring
