Somalia has declared Ethiopian diplomat Ali Mohamed Adan, a counselor at the Ethiopian embassy in Mogadishu, persona non grata. In a statement released on Tuesday, the Somali Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused Adan of participating in "activities incompatible with his diplomatic role," requiring him to leave the country within 72 hours.
While the specific actions leading to this expulsion were not detailed, the statement indicated they violated the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Attempts by VOA's Horn of Africa Service to get a response from Ethiopian officials went unanswered.
This incident escalates ongoing diplomatic tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia, sparked by Ethiopia's recent Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Somaliland. Somalia views this agreement as a threat to its sovereignty, while Ethiopia and Somaliland assert that it simply formalizes existing arrangements. The MOU is said to involve Somaliland receiving recognition from Ethiopia in exchange for leasing 20 kilometers of seafront.
Tensions have been mounting since April when Somalia expelled Ethiopian Ambassador Muktar Mohamed Ware, citing "internal interference" by Ethiopia. Somalia also ordered the closure of Ethiopian consulates in Somaliland and Puntland, though they remain operational.
At the recent U.N. General Assembly, Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre called on the international community to support Somalia in condemning Ethiopia's actions, claiming they aim to "annex parts of Somalia under the guise of securing sea access." In response, then-Foreign Minister Taye Atske Selassie, who is now Ethiopia's ceremonial president, dismissed Barre's allegations, emphasizing that the MOU was in line with Somalia's political landscape.
0 Comments