Ethiopia

Addis Ababa (AX) — Ethiopia has openly raised eyebrows with the United States regarding the looming possibility of Egyptian soldiers being stationed in Somalia. This concern comes hot on the trail of the African Union Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), which will wrap up at the close of 2024. Things aren’t exactly cozy between Ethiopia and Somalia these days, as both nations have been building their security rapport with Egypt, causing a bit of a row. The spat kicked off earlier this year when Ethiopia inked a deal with…

Ethiopia Scoffs at Somalia's Rebel Support Threat, Calling It 'Absurd,' Escalating Strain ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia - Ethiopia's Deputy Permanent Representative to the African Union, Nebiyu Tedla, has fired back at Somalia's Foreign Affairs Minister, Ahmed Moalim Fiqi, over his cautionary remarks about aiding Ethiopian rebels. In a blunt post on X, Nebiyu labeled the claims as "absurd" and accused Fiqi of sidelining national progress for clan agendas. "It’s laughable to see Al-Shabaab sympathizers masquerading as…

NAIROBI, Kenya — In a dramatic twist, Somalia's Foreign Affairs Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi mentioned supporting Ethiopian insurgents if Ethiopia advances with a contentious deal involving Somaliland. These comments, shared on Universal TV on September 12, represent a spike in regional tension. This tension stems from an agreement penned earlier this year where Ethiopia gains access to the Red Sea via Somaliland’s shores, potentially acknowledging Somaliland's plea for independence. Naturally, Somalia, viewing…

Djibouti Declines to Sell Tadjoura Port to Ethiopia NAIROBI, Kenya - In a move aimed at easing tensions in the Horn of Africa, Djibouti has offered to jointly manage the Tadjoura port with Ethiopia instead of selling it outright. Ethiopia, embroiled in a Red Sea access dispute with Somalia, finds itself at a tricky crossroads. Relations have soured between Mogadishu and Addis Ababa due to Ethiopia's intent to gain Red Sea access through Somaliland, a semi-autonomous part of Somalia. The resulting backlash…

In response, Ethiopia boldly declared that Egypt “must abandon its aggressive approach,” firmly restating that any discussions on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) are firmly within Ethiopia's jurisdiction. This latest back-and-forth fuels the enduring diplomatic friction between the two nations, intensifying fears of further escalation. Why is the GERD causing such a stir? Back in 2011, Ethiopia laid the first stone for what would become a landmark project to bring electricity to millions of its citizens, half of…

Somaliland's Determined Pursuit of Red Sea Access Amid Neighborly Strains HARGEISA, Somalia - Somaliland, the self-declared independent region, has reiterated that their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ethiopia regarding access to the Red Sea is nearly finalized. Only the legal formalities await completion now. Essa Kayd, the Foreign Affairs and International Relations Minister, shared this update with diplomats in Hargeisa. He deemed the advancement as 'momentous and imminent.' Months back, Kayd indicated the…

Nairobi (AFP) – Djibouti has put forward a port-sharing arrangement with Ethiopia, aiming to lower the friction between Ethiopia and Somalia, two adversaries in the Horn of Africa. The disagreement between Mogadishu and Addis Ababa has considerably escalated since Ethiopia inked a contentious maritime agreement in January with Somaliland, a self-declared independent region. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) allows Ethiopia, one of the world's substantial landlocked nations, to gain seafaring access. However, Somalia…

The Djiboutian government has backpedaled on its original proposition to grant Ethiopia full oversight of a significant port, a gesture initially aimed at alleviating regional frictions following the ongoing wrangles between Somalia and Ethiopia over access to the Red Sea. Now, Djibouti is entertaining the idea of collaborative management. The adjustment in stance suggests Ethiopia will receive partial control of the Tadjourah Port, while Djibouti continues to maintain operational supervision. This shift is an attempt to…

During the latest meet-up, Arab League ministers, including big wigs from Saudi Arabia, Djibouti, Egypt, and Mauritania, showed full-throated support for Somalia's territorial unity.

Ethiopia Calls on Egypt to Reconsider Stance on Nile Dam Amid Growing Tensions ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Ethiopia is pressing Egypt to rethink its "hostile tactics" concerning the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), as tensions escalate over the Nile River's water management. This plea arises from Egypt's recent correspondence with the UN Security Council. In that letter, Egypt accused Ethiopia of violating international norms by filling the dam without a tripartite agreement. The GERD, perched on the Blue Nile in…