- After the new President of Somalia came to power in May this year, Somalia’s relations with its neighbor Ethiopia seem to have soured. The bilateral ties under the previous regime between both countries were reported to be cordial.
After the new President of Somalia came to power in May this year, Somalia’s relations with its neighbor Ethiopia seem to have soured. The bilateral ties under the previous regime between both countries were reported to be cordial.
Political analysts have cited some causes for the deterioration of the relations. First was that Somalia’s new President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, ignored Ethiopian counterpart Abiy Ahmed during visits to regional capitals in May, June and July. Later, during his visit to Cairo, Hassan Sheikh supported Egypt over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi at a press conference disclosed that Somalia supported Egypt on the contentious issue of the dam.
The latest reason seems to be Hassan Sheikh’s decision to appoint a former Al-Shabaab commander, Mukhtar Roobow Mansuur, to Somalia’s new cabinet which has created shock at home and also in the region, particularly in Ethiopia. Al-Shabaab has always been regarded as a menace by Ethiopia. In response to Mansuur’s appointment, Ethiopia has started engaging directly with leaders of Somalia’s semi-autonomous regions such as Southwest instead of the central government.
Abdiaziz Lafta-Gareen, the president of Southwest, was reportedly flown to Addis Ababa by the Ethiopian army for some secret talks. It was also reported that Lafta-Gareen, and other regional presidents, including Said Abdullahi Deni of Puntland in northeast Somalia, will form an Ethiopian-supported strong opposition to the new government. This is expected to destabilize the new Somalian government.
Also read;
https://trendsnafrica.com/egypt-hosts-somalian-president-hassan-sheikh-mohamud/
https://trendsnafrica.com/a-peaceful-transfer-of-power-somalia/
https://trendsnafrica.com/us-troops-to-be-deployed-again-in-trouble-torn-somalia/
