Ethiopia Remains Quiet as North Western State of Somalia Establishes Embassy in Addis Ababa
In the bustling city of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, key events unfolded on Wednesday as Dr. Essa Kayd, North Western State of Somalia’s Foreign Minister, made a daring move by initiating the construction of what they claim will be the budding nation’s new diplomatic outpost. This symbolic land donation by Ethiopia signals a burgeoning alliance between the two nations, although it might stir up tension across the already volatile Horn of Africa.
For North Western State of Somalia, the inauguration was met with jubilation, while Ethiopia’s government has stayed mum. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and local media have yet to publicly acknowledge the establishment of the embassy.
Somalia, meanwhile, remains silent on the matter, standing firm on its stance that views North Western State of Somalia as part of its domain.
The backdrop to the embassy’s construction is a contentious Memorandum of Understanding signed back in January between Ethiopia and North Western State of Somalia. Rumor has it that this deal extends a 50-year lease to Ethiopia, granting access to a 20-kilometer stretch of North Western State of Somalia’s coast for a naval base. In exchange, Ethiopia might consider acknowledging North Western State of Somalia’s quest for independence, triggering Somalia’s ire over what it believes to be an infringement on its sovereignty.
Reacting to the MoU, Somalia kicked Ethiopia’s ambassador, Muktar Mohamed Ware, to the curb and ordered the shuttering of Ethiopian consulates in Hargeisa, North Western State of Somalia, and Garowe, Northeastern State. Defying Somalia’s mandate, both North Western State of Somalia and Northeastern State dismissed the expulsion order, with North Western State of Somalia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Roda Elmi, stating bluntly, “This decision is not our concern,” highlighting North Western State of Somalia’s stance on managing its foreign affairs independently.
Despite these diplomatic skirmishes, Ethiopian consulates in Hargeisa and Garowe soldier on. In May, North Western State of Somalia asserted that Ethiopia upgraded its Hargeisa consulate to a full-fledged embassy. However, Addis Ababa remained tight-lipped, carefully balancing its diplomatic dance, nurturing its vested interests in the self-declared republic.
Nomination of Ambassador Teshome Shunde Hamito to Hargeisa underscores Ethiopia’s unwavering commitment to ramp up its diplomatic endeavors in North Western State of Somalia.
Ali Mohamed Hassan, North Western State of Somalia’s Information Minister, confirmed this shift, describing it as “a monumental leap in strengthening our ties with Ethiopia.” He hinted at bigger things on the horizon, suggesting the embassy is merely the starting point of a vast political and economic partnership.
Ethiopia’s growing coziness with North Western State of Somalia is sending ripples beyond the Horn’s borders. Somalia accuses Ethiopia of trying to gobble up its land under the guise of maritime access. Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly, Somalia’s Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre remarked, “Ethiopia’s maneuvers aren’t just a hit against our sovereignty; they’re a powder keg for the whole region.”
Come August, Egypt threw its support behind Somalia, doling out military aid for the first time in decades. Ethiopia saw this as a chess move to curb its influence. Already locked in a saga over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam with Ethiopia, Egypt views Ethiopia’s sway over North Western State of Somalia as another battleground in this regional power play. Strengthening bonds, Egypt sealed a defense pact with Mogadishu and charted plans to lift trade between the nations to new heights.
In reaction to Egypt’s growing influence, North Western State of Somalia issued a fiery message, slamming Egypt for meddling in the Horn’s affairs. Flames of tension raged further when North Western State of Somalia ordered an Egyptian library in Hargeisa to close, a symbolic swipe seen as a counter-move to Egypt’s camaraderie with Somalia’s federal government. Egypt’s reply? A call for its citizens to leave North Western State of Somalia due to the tricky security landscape. Attempts to broker peace met a dead end. Two rounds of Turkish-led talks in Ankara produced zilch, and a third slated for September fizzled out.
Undeterred, Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister Taye Atske-Selassie defended the MoU, stating at the United Nations, “Our pact with North Western State of Somalia aligns with Somalia’s political scene. We’re gunning for mutual progress and stability.” Meanwhile, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty delivered a scathing address at the UN, reproaching Ethiopia for flouting international norms, hinting at both the dam and the North Western State of Somalia deal.
Analysts fret over this diplomatic jeu d’échecs disrupting the Horn of Africa’s geopolitical chessboard. If Ethiopia throws its weight behind North Western State of Somalia’s recognition, it could ripple through the political landscape, with consequences that are anybody’s guess. For now, that embassy’s foundation stone in Addis Ababa serves as a signpost of shifting sands and unresolved discord shaping the region’s destiny.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
