MOGADISHU, Somalia – Somalia has declared an Ethiopian diplomat persona non grata, ordering him to leave within 72 hours amid rising tensions over a controversial memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Somaliland, a breakaway region.
In a statement, the Foreign Ministry accused Ali Mohamed Aden, a counselor at the Ethiopian embassy in Mogadishu, of “engaging in activities incompatible with his diplomatic role.” The ministry characterized Aden’s expulsion as a decisive measure to safeguard national interests and uphold international diplomatic standards.
The ministry emphasized Somalia’s commitment to protecting its sovereignty and adhering to international law. It stated that Mr. Aden had violated diplomatic norms by ignoring the host nation’s laws and interfering in its internal affairs.
Ethiopia has yet to comment on the expulsion. This diplomatic fallout follows Somalia’s concerns regarding the MoU between Ethiopia and Somaliland, which Somalia views as a violation of its sovereignty. Tensions have escalated, culminating in the expulsion of the Ethiopian ambassador from Mogadishu.
Recently, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud visited Uganda, Burundi, Kenya, and Djibouti to engage with key troop-contributing nations ahead of the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia, known as AUSSOM. He expressed gratitude to these countries for their sacrifices and contributions to the ongoing African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).
President Mohamud did not visit Ethiopia due to its refusal to revoke the MoU with Somaliland. Although Ethiopia has expressed a willingness to maintain troops in Somalia for the AUSSOM mission, the Somali government has made it clear that this will not occur unless Ethiopia nullifies the MoU.
Ethiopia faces a challenging situation, with a December 31 deadline from Somalia to revoke its MoU with Somaliland. Failure to meet this deadline could lead to troop withdrawal and exclusion from the upcoming AU mission.
Earlier this year, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed signed the MoU with Somaliland to secure sea access, prompting significant anger from Somalia. In response, Somalia has invited Egypt to participate in the new AU mission and called for the removal of all Ethiopian troops.
Egypt accepted the invitation and has begun military buildup in Somalia, raising security concerns for Ethiopia amid ongoing Nile water disputes. In late August, Egypt started delivering military supplies to Somalia, with convoys transporting weapons to the Ministry of Defense headquarters and nearby military bases in Mogadishu.
Egypt is also set to deploy at least 10,000 troops to Somalia, alarming Ethiopia and heightening regional rivalry. It has aligned itself with Somalia in its dispute with Ethiopia, particularly after signing a controversial MoU with Somaliland.
This agreement grants Ethiopia access to a 20-kilometer (12.4-mile) stretch of Red Sea coastline in exchange for potential recognition of Somaliland’s independence, further escalating tensions.
Ethiopia has firmly denied any links to Somalia’s allegations and rejected claims regarding the MoU with Somaliland. This situation carries significant implications for regional stability, as Somalia and Ethiopia remain in conflict over territorial issues.
