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Somalia has expelled Ethiopia’s ambassador and ordered the closure of its consulates in Hargeisa and Garowe, capitals of Somaliland and Puntland respectively. This move comes amid rising diplomatic tensions between the two nations, fuelled by Ethiopia’s recent port deal with Somaliland.
Somalia accuses Ethiopia of violating its “sovereignty and internal affairs” by engaging with Somaliland, a breakaway region seeking independence. Somalia also recalled its ambassador from Addis Ababa for consultations.
The dispute stems from a January agreement where landlocked Ethiopia secured a lease on a 20km coastal strip from Somaliland, aiming to build a naval base. Somalia views this deal as an infringement on its territorial integrity and a potential step towards Somaliland’s recognition by Ethiopia – a move fiercely opposed by Mogadishu.
Somaliland declared independence over 30 years ago but remains internationally unrecognized. Somalia has launched a diplomatic campaign, seeking support from regional rivals Eritrea and Egypt.
Despite Somali demands for the deal’s reversal, tensions have escalated further with Ethiopia’s recent meeting with Puntland officials, another semi-autonomous Somali region with strained relations with the central government.
While armed conflict seems unlikely due to Ethiopia’s involvement in the AU peacekeeping mission in Somalia, the situation remains tense. Experts warn that escalating tensions could create opportunities for the militant group al-Shabab to exploit the situation and increase security threats in the region.
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