Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia’s spokesperson dismisses Somalia’s allegation as groundless (Photo File/PD)
On Thursday, Ethiopia refuted Somalia’s claims that Ethiopian soldiers unlawfully entered Somali territory, calling it “baseless.” Last week, Somalia accused Ethiopian troops of crossing the border without the Somali Federal government’s consent.
Somalia officially lodged the complaint at the United Nations through Ambassador Abukar Dahir Osman.
Their allegations mentioned Ethiopian soldiers, not part of the African Union peacekeeping mission, crossing into the Hiran Region. Somali authorities estimated the contingent to be between 3,000 and 4,000 troops.
BBC Amharic quoted Nebiyu Tedla, Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, stating Ethiopia only has troops in Somalia under the African Union Peacekeeping Mission and bilateral pacts.
“No cross-border operation took place,” said Tedla, according to BBC Amharic. Discussions with senior Ethiopian Defense Commanders overseeing operations in Somalia confirmed regular training exercises against potential threats. Relocating military bases, troop movements, and transporting military equipment are routine, the spokesperson noted. Recently, the Ethiopian Peacekeeping Forces engaged in such activities.
The spokesperson further mentioned that Somalia’s Federal government does not exert control beyond Villa Somalia.
Relations between Ethiopia and Somalia deteriorated after Ethiopia signed a memorandum of understanding with North Western of Somalia—a self-declared autonomous region in the north.
In February 2024, Somalia accused Ethiopia of “provocation,” suggesting an attempt to obstruct Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s entry to the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa. Weeks prior, the president had been rallying diplomatic and military backing against Ethiopia over the North Western of Somalia agreement.
By April 2024, President Mohamud’s administration ordered the closure of Ethiopian Consulates in North Western of Somalia and Northeastern State—a directive Northeastern State dismissed.
If executed, the agreement would grant Ethiopia a 20-kilometer coastal stretch in North Western of Somalia for 50 years in exchange for recognizing North Western of Somalia’s independence. Yet, there has been no progress, and this Wednesday, Ethiopia cautioned the public against being misled by purported “fake” news about the North Western of Somalia memorandum.
