Ethiopian

FILE - Somali Defense Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur Jama – Official X account There's a significant shake-up brewing with Somalia's stance on engagement in regional security. In a strategic twist reported by Hiiran, November 2024, the Somali government intends to shut the door on Ethiopian military participation in the upcoming African Union mission. This mission, slated to kick off in January 2025, is set to take over from the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). Explaining this landmark decision on…

Mogadishu (AX) — In a significant move, the Somali government recently declared that Ethiopian forces would be sidelined from the forthcoming African Union mission, which is set to replace the existing African Union Transition Mission in Somalia, ATIMS, by January 2025.Somali Defense Minister Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur Jama shared this pivotal decision during a chat with Somali National Television, highlighting Ethiopia's purported breach of Somalia’s sovereignty as a key reason for their exclusion."Ethiopian forces have been…

The diplomatic climate between Somalia and Ethiopia has turned icy since early 2024. This fracas, largely driven by each nation’s jostling for power in the turbulent Horn of Africa, has created quite a stir across the political landscape. Tensions soared back in January when Ethiopia signed an eyebrow-raising agreement—famously known as a memorandum of understanding (MoU)—with North Western State of Somalia. For those out of the loop, North Western State of Somalia is a self-declared, breakaway region in northern Somalia,…

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…

Ethiopian Embassy Shift from Presidential Palace in Somalia MOGADISHU, Somalia - The Ethiopian embassy in Somalia is gearing up for a shift from the highly guarded confines of the presidential abode. This decision, according to Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, the Foreign Affairs minister, comes at a time when the ties between these neighboring nations hit a rough patch, following a contentious agreement between Addis Ababa and North Western State of Somalia. Presently, the embassy snugly sits within Mogadishu's presidential premises.…

FILE - Ethiopian Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin (right) and Somali Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Ghedi (left) proudly hoist the Ethiopian flag during the opening ceremony of the revamped Ethiopian Embassy in Mogadishu, dated May 27, 2007. Mogadishu (AX) — Somalia plans to shift the Ethiopian Embassy from its hallowed presidential precinct, signaling a widening chasm in diplomatic relations, primarily triggered by Ethiopia's contentious port arrangement with North Western State of Somalia—a deal Somalia perceives as an affront…

FILE - On January 1, 2024, North Western State of Somalia's President Muse Bihi Abdi and Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came together in Addis Ababa to ink a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) granting Ethiopia access to a North Western State of Somalia port. As tensions swirl around the maritime dispute between Somalia and Ethiopia, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed asserted on Thursday that his nation is pursuing access to the Red Sea "through peaceful avenues.” During a parliamentary session where lawmakers pressed him for…

Somalia has tagged an Ethiopian diplomat in Mogadishu as unwelcome and sent him packing.Somalia's Foreign Affairs ministry on Tuesday pointed a finger, accusing the diplomat of "actions not suitable for his diplomatic duties."The diplomat in the hot seat, Ali Mohamed Adan, who serves as a counselor at the Ethiopian embassy in Mogadishu, was given the boot and must depart Somalia within the next 72 hours.The specifics of Ali's alleged misconduct weren't disclosed, but the statement mentioned a "breach of the Vienna Convention…

Somalia Sends Ethiopian Diplomat Packing as Regional Strain Escalates MOGADISHU, Somalia - In a swift diplomatic move, Somalia has declared an Ethiopian envoy "persona non grata" due to his reportedly antagonistic actions against Somali authorities. The envoy has been given a tight three-day window to leave the nation, or face deportation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has accused Ali Mohamed Adan of behavior "inconsistent with his diplomatic obligations." Adan, who held the position of Consular II at the Ethiopian…

Mogadishu (AX) — The ball is in Somalia's court when it comes to deciding if Ethiopian forces will be part of the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia, or AUSSOM, that's set to kick off at the start of 2025, said UK Ambassador Michael Nithavrianakis.During a chinwag with reporters, Ambassador Nithavrianakis shed some light on diplomatic dances being orchestrated by Kenya and Turkey to help chill out the frosty relations between Somalia and Ethiopia.“Ethiopia’s been a key player in the ATMIS mission as…