In a shift that has stirred some buzz, Somalia’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Ahmed Moalim Fiqi, has revealed plans to shift the Ethiopian Embassy away from the presidential compound. This announcement marks a significant response to public disapproval over the embassy’s notable location.
Speaking to reporters on November 4, Fiqi stated, “The move comes as a reaction to the public’s dissatisfaction with having a foreign embassy within our presidential grounds.” Recognizing the legitimate unease, he further added, “The concerns voiced by the Somali populace regarding the embassy’s current spot are understandable. We’ll take swift action to relocate it to a new site outside the presidential palace.”
Minister Fiqi expanded on the plan, describing, “Where the embassy stands now doesn’t serve any meaningful purpose. Our plan is to refurbish that area and relocate the embassy there.”
If these relocation plans don’t unfold smoothly, Fiqi hinted at a tit-for-tat arrangement, suggesting, “If necessary, we might propose that the Somali Embassy in Addis Ababa be situated inside the Ethiopian President’s grounds.”
This decision seemingly aligns with the current administration headed by President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed and ties in with a freshly inked Memorandum of Understanding between Ethiopia and North Western State of Somalia. There’s a whisper campaign suggesting this agreement might underline rising tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia.
The announcement trails a recent kerfuffle from the previous week, where diplomatic norms were allegedly breached by Ali Mohammad Adam, a consultant from the Ethiopian Embassy. In response, Minister Fiqi enforced his exit from Somalia within 72 hours, reflecting the brewing diplomatic strain.
The move to relocate the embassy might not just be about logistics; it could be indicative of deeper political rifts or strategies at play. Minister Fiqi’s decisive actions appear to be a bid to address both national concerns and international diplomatic relations.
This unfolding saga highlights a complicated dance of diplomacy and local sentiment, revealing the intricate balance Somalia strives to maintain between internal stability and its foreign relations.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
