#somaliland foreign minister

[zvaigzdelasas]

Somalia is prepared to go to war to stop Ethiopia recognising the breakaway territory of Somaliland and building a port there, a senior adviser to Somalia’s president has said.[...]

Last Sunday its president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, called on Somalis to “prepare for the defence of our homeland”, while rallies have been held in Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital, against the agreement.[...]

Ethiopia and Somalia fought a conflict in 1977-78 over a disputed region and tensions still run deep. Ethiopia [at the time ruled by the US-supported TPLF] invaded Somalia in 2006 to dislodge [the ICU government] from Mogadishu, helping to spark the Al-Shabaab insurgency, and today it is one of the largest contributors of troops in the African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia.[...]

In an interview with the Observer, Somaliland’s foreign minister, Essa Kayd, said the port deal with Ethiopia will “legitimise our self-determination” and could spark a “domino effect” of other countries recognising the territory.[...]

However, there is confusion over the content of the deal between Somaliland and Ethiopia. Neither side has made the full text public.

When it was struck, Somaliland’s president, Muse Bihi Abdi, said Ethiopia had agreed to grant official recognition in return for a 50-year lease of a stretch of coastline, which it will develop for “naval and commercial” purposes. However, Ethiopia said it had only agreed to “make an in-depth assessment towards taking a position regarding the efforts of Somaliland to gain recognition”.

A western diplomat briefed on the deal described it as a “memorandum of misunderstanding”. “Ethiopia insists they did not agree to recognise Somaliland,” the diplomat said.

Kayd said the deal is based on Ethiopia granting recognition to Somaliland: “Without that, nothing is going to happen.” He added that discussions had been progressing “for years”. “Ethiopia needs sea access and we need recognition, so you can see how these needs can be dealt with.”[...]

On Thursday, Abiy’s adviser drew parallels between Ethiopia’s quest for sea access and its construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, a potentially transformational hydro­electric project on the Blue Nile, which was built despite objections and military threats from Egypt.[...]

Mohamud visited Eritrea last week and is preparing to travel to Egypt. The countries are Ethiopia’s main regional rivals and have both expressed support for Somalia in the wake of the port deal. “Abiy sees this as a legacy issue,” said Boswell. “If this deal with Somaliland falls through, Ethiopia will try to find a port somewhere else, so this is going to shape regional dynamics for years to come.”

13 Jan 24

[beardedmrbean]

A top House Republican called on Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) to resign Monday for delivering a speech in which her critics say she placed Somali interests ahead of American ones. 

“Ilhan Omar’s appalling, Somalia-first comments are a slap in the face to the Minnesotans she was elected to serve and a direct violation of her oath of office,” House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) wrote on X. “She should resign in disgrace.”

Omar, the first Somali American in Congress, appeared to assure her Somali American constituents that she would do everything in her power to prevent the disputed, breakaway Republic of Somaliland from entering into a sea-access deal with landlocked Ethiopia.

A clip of the Minnesota lawmaker went viral with over 2.6 million views after it was posted on X, with a translation saying Omar had said: “As Somalis, one day we will go after our missing territories.”

The congresswoman claims her remarks were lost in translation. 

“It’s not only slanted but completely off,” Omar said of the subtitles in a video of her speech shared by Republic of Somaliland Foreign Minister Rhoda Elmi. “But I wouldn’t expect more from these propagandists.”

Omar claims her remarks were lost in translation.

“While I am in Congress, no one will take Somalia’s sea,” Omar said during the Jan. 27 speech, according to a translation she deemed to be more accurate. “The United States will not back others to rob us. So, do not lose sleep over that.”

Elmi urged House leadership and Democrats to “take note of [Omar’s] public conduct,” arguing that the speech was “unbecoming [of] a United States Congresswoman.” 

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) slammed Omar for vowing to protect Somalia’s borders while opposing efforts to shore up the US-Mexico border.

“Terrorist sympathizer Ilhan Omar in her own words: Somalian first. Muslim second. She never mentions America,” Greene tweeted. 

Omar is facing a Democratic primary challenge for her seat in Congress launched by former Minneapolis City Council member Don Samuels. AP

“She flaunts using her position as congresswoman to protect Somalia’s border while our border is invaded by MILLIONS of illegals who are a danger to America,” the Georgia Republican added. “These people hate America and they’re so emboldened by the Democrats’ disdain for our country, they’re not even trying to hide it anymore.”

The Republic of Somaliland declared its independence from Somalia in 1991, but is not widely recognized internationally, including by the US. Omar wants to keep it that way. 

“No nation-state can survive if its states start to get involved in land lease negotiations with other countries without the consent of the federal government,” she wrote on X. “Somalis in Somalia and in the diaspora are united in that effort and I stand in solidarity with them. No amount of harassment and lies will ever change that.”

[companyknowledgenews]

Ethiopia worried over arms shipment to Somalia, state news agency says - Notice Global Internet https://www.merchant-business.com/ethiopia-worried-over-arms-shipment-to-somalia-state-news-agency-says/?feed_id=210398&_unique_id=66f29f454b887 #GLOBAL - BLOGGER BLOGGER NAIROBI – Ethiopia’s foreign minister has warned that ammunition supplied to Somalia could worsen the fragile security situation and end up in the hands of terrorists, Ethiopia’s state news agency reported on Tuesday.His statement comes a day after an Egyptian warship unloaded heavy weaponry in the capital Mogadishu, the second arms shipment in the space of a month following the inking of a joint security pact by Egypt and Somalia in August.Ethiopia, which has thousands of troops stationed in neighbouring Somalia to fight al Qaeda-linked Islamist insurgents, has fallen out with the Mogadishu government over its plans to build a port in the breakaway region of Somaliland.The spat has drawn Somalia closer to Egypt, which has quarrelled with Ethiopia for years over Addis Ababa’s construction of a vast hydro dam on the headwaters of the Nile River.Ethiopia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Taye Astke Selassie said he was concerned that the supply of ammunition by “external forces would further exacerbate the fragile security and would end up in the hands of terrorists in Somalia,” Ethiopia News Agency reported.Taye made the comments at a meeting in New York with Rosemary DiCarlo, the United Nations Under Secretary General for Peacebuilding and Political Affairs.There was no immediate response from Somalia’s government to Taye’s remarks.In January landlocked Ethiopia agreed to lease 20 km (12 miles) of coastline from Somaliland – a part of Somalia which claims independence and has operated with effective autonomy since 1991 – in exchange for possible recognition of its sovereignty.In response, Somalia threatened to expel by the end of the year Ethiopia’s troops, who are there as part of the peacekeeping mission and under bilateral agreements, if the port deal was not scrapped. REUTERS http://109.70.148.72/~merchant29/6network/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/gb5f255e589f949d2645a6cce7ab35dc8b521309a2a8b5235747616d58cef662f484909e5a5ba241fb3eb1c36aeba0c81_64.jpeg NAIROBI – Ethiopia’s foreign minister has warned that ammunition supplied to Somalia could worsen the fragile security situation and end up in the hands of terrorists, Ethiopia’s state news agency reported on Tuesday. His statement comes a day after an Egyptian warship unloaded heavy weaponry in the capital Mogadishu, the second arms shipment in the … Read More

[bravecompanynews]

Ethiopia worried over arms shipment to Somalia, state news agency says - Notice Global Internet - #GLOBAL https://www.merchant-business.com/ethiopia-worried-over-arms-shipment-to-somalia-state-news-agency-says/?feed_id=210397&_unique_id=66f29f446d07b NAIROBI – Ethiopia’s foreign minister has warned that ammunition supplied to Somalia could worsen the fragile security situation and end up in the hands of terrorists, Ethiopia’s state news agency reported on Tuesday.His statement comes a day after an Egyptian warship unloaded heavy weaponry in the capital Mogadishu, the second arms shipment in the space of a month following the inking of a joint security pact by Egypt and Somalia in August.Ethiopia, which has thousands of troops stationed in neighbouring Somalia to fight al Qaeda-linked Islamist insurgents, has fallen out with the Mogadishu government over its plans to build a port in the breakaway region of Somaliland.The spat has drawn Somalia closer to Egypt, which has quarrelled with Ethiopia for years over Addis Ababa’s construction of a vast hydro dam on the headwaters of the Nile River.Ethiopia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Taye Astke Selassie said he was concerned that the supply of ammunition by “external forces would further exacerbate the fragile security and would end up in the hands of terrorists in Somalia,” Ethiopia News Agency reported.Taye made the comments at a meeting in New York with Rosemary DiCarlo, the United Nations Under Secretary General for Peacebuilding and Political Affairs.There was no immediate response from Somalia’s government to Taye’s remarks.In January landlocked Ethiopia agreed to lease 20 km (12 miles) of coastline from Somaliland – a part of Somalia which claims independence and has operated with effective autonomy since 1991 – in exchange for possible recognition of its sovereignty.In response, Somalia threatened to expel by the end of the year Ethiopia’s troops, who are there as part of the peacekeeping mission and under bilateral agreements, if the port deal was not scrapped. REUTERS http://109.70.148.72/~merchant29/6network/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/gb5f255e589f949d2645a6cce7ab35dc8b521309a2a8b5235747616d58cef662f484909e5a5ba241fb3eb1c36aeba0c81_64.jpeg BLOGGER - #GLOBAL

[boldcompanynews]

Ethiopia worried over arms shipment to Somalia, state news agency says - Notice Global Internet - BLOGGER https://www.merchant-business.com/ethiopia-worried-over-arms-shipment-to-somalia-state-news-agency-says/?feed_id=210396&_unique_id=66f29f4365183 NAIROBI – Ethiopia’s foreign minister has warned that ammunition supplied to Somalia could worsen the fragile security situation and end up in the hands of terrorists, Ethiopia’s state news agency reported on Tuesday.His statement comes a day after an Egyptian warship unloaded heavy weaponry in the capital Mogadishu, the second arms shipment in the space of a month following the inking of a joint security pact by Egypt and Somalia in August.Ethiopia, which has thousands of troops stationed in neighbouring Somalia to fight al Qaeda-linked Islamist insurgents, has fallen out with the Mogadishu government over its plans to build a port in the breakaway region of Somaliland.The spat has drawn Somalia closer to Egypt, which has quarrelled with Ethiopia for years over Addis Ababa’s construction of a vast hydro dam on the headwaters of the Nile River.Ethiopia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Taye Astke Selassie said he was concerned that the supply of ammunition by “external forces would further exacerbate the fragile security and would end up in the hands of terrorists in Somalia,” Ethiopia News Agency reported.Taye made the comments at a meeting in New York with Rosemary DiCarlo, the United Nations Under Secretary General for Peacebuilding and Political Affairs.There was no immediate response from Somalia’s government to Taye’s remarks.In January landlocked Ethiopia agreed to lease 20 km (12 miles) of coastline from Somaliland – a part of Somalia which claims independence and has operated with effective autonomy since 1991 – in exchange for possible recognition of its sovereignty.In response, Somalia threatened to expel by the end of the year Ethiopia’s troops, who are there as part of the peacekeeping mission and under bilateral agreements, if the port deal was not scrapped. REUTERS http://109.70.148.72/~merchant29/6network/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/gb5f255e589f949d2645a6cce7ab35dc8b521309a2a8b5235747616d58cef662f484909e5a5ba241fb3eb1c36aeba0c81_64.jpeg #GLOBAL - BLOGGER NAIROBI – Ethiopia’s foreign minist... BLOGGER - #GLOBAL

[technologycompanynews]

Ethiopia worried over arms shipment to Somalia, state news agency says - Notice Global Internet - BLOGGER https://www.merchant-business.com/ethiopia-worried-over-arms-shipment-to-somalia-state-news-agency-says/?feed_id=210395&_unique_id=66f29f4050c19 NAIROBI – Ethiopia’s foreign minister has warned that ammunition supplied to Somalia could worsen the fragile security situation and end up in the hands of terrorists, Ethiopia’s state news agency reported on Tuesday.His statement comes a day after an Egyptian warship unloaded heavy weaponry in the capital Mogadishu, the second arms shipment in the space of a month following the inking of a joint security pact by Egypt and Somalia in August.Ethiopia, which has thousands of troops stationed in neighbouring Somalia to fight al Qaeda-linked Islamist insurgents, has fallen out with the Mogadishu government over its plans to build a port in the breakaway region of Somaliland.The spat has drawn Somalia closer to Egypt, which has quarrelled with Ethiopia for years over Addis Ababa’s construction of a vast hydro dam on the headwaters of the Nile River.Ethiopia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Taye Astke Selassie said he was concerned that the supply of ammunition by “external forces would further exacerbate the fragile security and would end up in the hands of terrorists in Somalia,” Ethiopia News Agency reported.Taye made the comments at a meeting in New York with Rosemary DiCarlo, the United Nations Under Secretary General for Peacebuilding and Political Affairs.There was no immediate response from Somalia’s government to Taye’s remarks.In January landlocked Ethiopia agreed to lease 20 km (12 miles) of coastline from Somaliland – a part of Somalia which claims independence and has operated with effective autonomy since 1991 – in exchange for possible recognition of its sovereignty.In response, Somalia threatened to expel by the end of the year Ethiopia’s troops, who are there as part of the peacekeeping mission and under bilateral agreements, if the port deal was not scrapped. REUTERS http://109.70.148.72/~merchant29/6network/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/gb5f255e589f949d2645a6cce7ab35dc8b521309a2a8b5235747616d58cef662f484909e5a5ba241fb3eb1c36aeba0c81_64.jpeg BLOGGER - #GLOBAL NAIROBI – Ethiopia’s foreign minister has warned that ammunition supplied to Somalia could worsen the fragile security situation and end up in the hands of terrorists, Ethiopia’s state news agency reported on Tuesday. His statement comes a day after an Egyptian warship unloaded heavy weaponry in the capital Mogadishu, the second arms shipment in the … Read More

[onlinecompanynews]

Ethiopia worried over arms shipment to Somalia, state news agency says - Notice Global Internet https://www.merchant-business.com/ethiopia-worried-over-arms-shipment-to-somalia-state-news-agency-says/?feed_id=210394&_unique_id=66f29e1b8eed4 NAIROBI – Ethiopia’s foreign minist... BLOGGER - #GLOBAL NAIROBI – Ethiopia’s foreign minister has warned that ammunition supplied to Somalia could worsen the fragile security situation and end up in the hands of terrorists, Ethiopia’s state news agency reported on Tuesday.His statement comes a day after an Egyptian warship unloaded heavy weaponry in the capital Mogadishu, the second arms shipment in the space of a month following the inking of a joint security pact by Egypt and Somalia in August.Ethiopia, which has thousands of troops stationed in neighbouring Somalia to fight al Qaeda-linked Islamist insurgents, has fallen out with the Mogadishu government over its plans to build a port in the breakaway region of Somaliland.The spat has drawn Somalia closer to Egypt, which has quarrelled with Ethiopia for years over Addis Ababa’s construction of a vast hydro dam on the headwaters of the Nile River.Ethiopia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Taye Astke Selassie said he was concerned that the supply of ammunition by “external forces would further exacerbate the fragile security and would end up in the hands of terrorists in Somalia,” Ethiopia News Agency reported.Taye made the comments at a meeting in New York with Rosemary DiCarlo, the United Nations Under Secretary General for Peacebuilding and Political Affairs.There was no immediate response from Somalia’s government to Taye’s remarks.In January landlocked Ethiopia agreed to lease 20 km (12 miles) of coastline from Somaliland – a part of Somalia which claims independence and has operated with effective autonomy since 1991 – in exchange for possible recognition of its sovereignty.In response, Somalia threatened to expel by the end of the year Ethiopia’s troops, who are there as part of the peacekeeping mission and under bilateral agreements, if the port deal was not scrapped. REUTERS http://109.70.148.72/~merchant29/6network/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/gb5f255e589f949d2645a6cce7ab35dc8b521309a2a8b5235747616d58cef662f484909e5a5ba241fb3eb1c36aeba0c81_64.jpeg #GLOBAL - BLOGGER NAIROBI – Ethiopia’s foreign minister has warned that ammunition supplied to Somalia could worsen the fragile security situation and end up in the hands of terrorists, Ethiopia’s state news agency reported on Tuesday. His statement comes a day after an Egyptian warship unloaded heavy weaponry in the capital Mogadishu, the second arms shipment in the … Read More

[internetcompanynews]

Ethiopia worried over arms shipment to Somalia, state news agency says - Notice Global Internet - BLOGGER https://www.merchant-business.com/ethiopia-worried-over-arms-shipment-to-somalia-state-news-agency-says/?feed_id=210393&_unique_id=66f29e1a2132a NAIROBI – Ethiopia’s foreign minister has warned that ammunition supplied to Somalia could worsen the fragile security situation and end up in the hands of terrorists, Ethiopia’s state news agency reported on Tuesday.His statement comes a day after an Egyptian warship unloaded heavy weaponry in the capital Mogadishu, the second arms shipment in the space of a month following the inking of a joint security pact by Egypt and Somalia in August.Ethiopia, which has thousands of troops stationed in neighbouring Somalia to fight al Qaeda-linked Islamist insurgents, has fallen out with the Mogadishu government over its plans to build a port in the breakaway region of Somaliland.The spat has drawn Somalia closer to Egypt, which has quarrelled with Ethiopia for years over Addis Ababa’s construction of a vast hydro dam on the headwaters of the Nile River.Ethiopia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Taye Astke Selassie said he was concerned that the supply of ammunition by “external forces would further exacerbate the fragile security and would end up in the hands of terrorists in Somalia,” Ethiopia News Agency reported.Taye made the comments at a meeting in New York with Rosemary DiCarlo, the United Nations Under Secretary General for Peacebuilding and Political Affairs.There was no immediate response from Somalia’s government to Taye’s remarks.In January landlocked Ethiopia agreed to lease 20 km (12 miles) of coastline from Somaliland – a part of Somalia which claims independence and has operated with effective autonomy since 1991 – in exchange for possible recognition of its sovereignty.In response, Somalia threatened to expel by the end of the year Ethiopia’s troops, who are there as part of the peacekeeping mission and under bilateral agreements, if the port deal was not scrapped. REUTERS http://109.70.148.72/~merchant29/6network/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/gb5f255e589f949d2645a6cce7ab35dc8b521309a2a8b5235747616d58cef662f484909e5a5ba241fb3eb1c36aeba0c81_64.jpeg Ethiopia worried over arms shipment to Somalia, state news agency says - Notice Global Internet - #GLOBAL BLOGGER - #GLOBAL

[formidablecompanynews]

Ethiopia worried over arms shipment to Somalia, state news agency says - Notice Global Internet https://www.merchant-business.com/ethiopia-worried-over-arms-shipment-to-somalia-state-news-agency-says/?feed_id=210392&_unique_id=66f29e185dd36 #GLOBAL - BLOGGER BLOGGER NAIROBI – Ethiopia’s foreign minister has warned that ammunition supplied to Somalia could worsen the fragile security situation and end up in the hands of terrorists, Ethiopia’s state news agency reported on Tuesday.His statement comes a day after an Egyptian warship unloaded heavy weaponry in the capital Mogadishu, the second arms shipment in the space of a month following the inking of a joint security pact by Egypt and Somalia in August.Ethiopia, which has thousands of troops stationed in neighbouring Somalia to fight al Qaeda-linked Islamist insurgents, has fallen out with the Mogadishu government over its plans to build a port in the breakaway region of Somaliland.The spat has drawn Somalia closer to Egypt, which has quarrelled with Ethiopia for years over Addis Ababa’s construction of a vast hydro dam on the headwaters of the Nile River.Ethiopia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Taye Astke Selassie said he was concerned that the supply of ammunition by “external forces would further exacerbate the fragile security and would end up in the hands of terrorists in Somalia,” Ethiopia News Agency reported.Taye made the comments at a meeting in New York with Rosemary DiCarlo, the United Nations Under Secretary General for Peacebuilding and Political Affairs.There was no immediate response from Somalia’s government to Taye’s remarks.In January landlocked Ethiopia agreed to lease 20 km (12 miles) of coastline from Somaliland – a part of Somalia which claims independence and has operated with effective autonomy since 1991 – in exchange for possible recognition of its sovereignty.In response, Somalia threatened to expel by the end of the year Ethiopia’s troops, who are there as part of the peacekeeping mission and under bilateral agreements, if the port deal was not scrapped. REUTERS http://109.70.148.72/~merchant29/6network/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/gb5f255e589f949d2645a6cce7ab35dc8b521309a2a8b5235747616d58cef662f484909e5a5ba241fb3eb1c36aeba0c81_64.jpeg NAIROBI – Ethiopia’s foreign minister has warned that ammunition supplied to Somalia could worsen the fragile security situation and end up in the hands of terrorists, Ethiopia’s state news agency reported on Tuesday. His statement comes a day after an Egyptian warship unloaded heavy weaponry in the capital Mogadishu, the second arms shipment in the … Read More

[smartcompanynewsweb]

Ethiopia worried over arms shipment to Somalia, state news agency says - Notice Global Internet - #GLOBAL https://www.merchant-business.com/ethiopia-worried-over-arms-shipment-to-somalia-state-news-agency-says/?feed_id=210391&_unique_id=66f29e1749cee NAIROBI – Ethiopia’s foreign minister has warned that ammunition supplied to Somalia could worsen the fragile security situation and end up in the hands of terrorists, Ethiopia’s state news agency reported on Tuesday.His statement comes a day after an Egyptian warship unloaded heavy weaponry in the capital Mogadishu, the second arms shipment in the space of a month following the inking of a joint security pact by Egypt and Somalia in August.Ethiopia, which has thousands of troops stationed in neighbouring Somalia to fight al Qaeda-linked Islamist insurgents, has fallen out with the Mogadishu government over its plans to build a port in the breakaway region of Somaliland.The spat has drawn Somalia closer to Egypt, which has quarrelled with Ethiopia for years over Addis Ababa’s construction of a vast hydro dam on the headwaters of the Nile River.Ethiopia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Taye Astke Selassie said he was concerned that the supply of ammunition by “external forces would further exacerbate the fragile security and would end up in the hands of terrorists in Somalia,” Ethiopia News Agency reported.Taye made the comments at a meeting in New York with Rosemary DiCarlo, the United Nations Under Secretary General for Peacebuilding and Political Affairs.There was no immediate response from Somalia’s government to Taye’s remarks.In January landlocked Ethiopia agreed to lease 20 km (12 miles) of coastline from Somaliland – a part of Somalia which claims independence and has operated with effective autonomy since 1991 – in exchange for possible recognition of its sovereignty.In response, Somalia threatened to expel by the end of the year Ethiopia’s troops, who are there as part of the peacekeeping mission and under bilateral agreements, if the port deal was not scrapped. REUTERS http://109.70.148.72/~merchant29/6network/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/gb5f255e589f949d2645a6cce7ab35dc8b521309a2a8b5235747616d58cef662f484909e5a5ba241fb3eb1c36aeba0c81_64.jpeg BLOGGER - #GLOBAL

[caalaadd]

Somalia’s difficult options: To support Ethiopia's rebels or embrace diplomacy?

Somalia’s difficult options: To support Ethiopia’s rebels or embrace diplomacy? Somalia’s difficult options: To support Ethiopia’s rebels or embrace diplomacy? Somalia’s foreign minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi says his country has an option to support rebels in Ethiopia in Addis Ababa implements Somaliland MoU. NAIROBI, Kenya – The diplomatic tiff between Somalia and Ethiopia has taken a new twist,…

[zvaigzdelasas]

International recognition has been a long-sought goal for Somaliland, a region in northern Somalia that has enjoyed de facto independence since 1991. But the groundbreaking agreement has created shockwaves in the region and fury in Somalia, which views it as a hostile violation of Somalia’s sovereignty.[...]

While Somaliland insists that recognition has already been agreed upon and settled, Addis Ababa has been reluctant to firmly address the matter of statehood. In a published communique, the government said it had yet to formally recognise Somaliland. But social media posts by Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs official Mesganu Arga this week appear to support Somaliland’s interpretation of the deal.

The ambiguity of the messaging continues to fuel speculation. A draft of the agreement has yet to be published, but all indications suggest that it would all but nullify a 2018 tripartite treaty cementing ties between Ethiopia, Somalia and Eritrea, details of which were similarly never made public.[...]

Domestically, conflict with Faro militiamen in Amhara and unrest in Oromia has weakened key support bases for Abiy. Failure to make payments on Ethiopia’s eurobonds at the end of 2023 has also heightened pressure on the prime minister.[...]

There are also domestic woes in Somaliland, which has known relative stability for decades. The enclave is struggling with an uprising by local clan militia who pushed its forces out of the disputed town of Las Anod in August.[...]

Diplomatic ties between them date back to the 1980s when Ethiopia supported Somaliland rebel fighters who helped win its de facto independence in 1991, the same year Ethiopia became landlocked after Eritrea’s successful war of independence. Ethiopia continued to use Eritrea’s Red Sea ports until the two states severed ties and fought a 1998-2000 border war, which killed 70,000 people. Since then, Ethiopia has used Djibouti’s port as its main trade conduit, but the billions Djibouti is believed to charge Ethiopia annually in port fees has had it exploring alternatives in Sudan, Somaliland and Kenya since the mid-2000s.

Agreements between Ethiopia and Somaliland over the use of its Berbera port date as far back as 2005, but issues including logistics and potential harm to relations with Mogadishu have prevented Addis Ababa from implementing a wholesale shift from Djibouti. In 2017, Ethiopia acquired shares in Berbera port as part of a deal involving Emirati logistics management company DP World to expand the port and turn it into a lucrative trade gateway catering to the needs of 119 million Ethiopians. At the time, Somalia denounced the deal as illegal. Ethiopia did not follow through on commitments and eventually lost its stake by 2022.[...]

After Somali independence in 1960 and until the end of the Cold War, the status of Ethiopia’s Somali region, its second largest by area, has been hotly contested between the two countries. The region, also known as Ogaden, is home to ethnic Somalis, who make up about 7 percent of Ethiopia’s population. It has witnessed numerous conflicts. One was the Ogaden War from 1977 to 1978, which killed tens of thousands of people before Ethiopia, with the assistance of Soviet military advisers and Cuban troops, reasserted dominance over the land.

Under the governments of Ethiopia’s Mengistu Hailemariam and Somali President Siad Barre [supported during the war by the US], both countries supported rebel factions in each other’s countries, which would go on to weaken and eventually lead to the overthrow of both leaders by 1991.

Somalia has never regained the stability it knew during the Barre era. [...] A considerable segment of Ethiopian troops has been part of the African Union peacekeeping mission mandated to fight the rebels in Somalia. Their semi-permanent presence in the country since 2006 has fuelled further resentment.[...]

“It’s possible that the UAE, which has cordial relations with both Ethiopia and Somaliland, may have encouraged the parties to proceed with the deal,”[...]

Meanwhile, Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza Strip has had a ripple effect, including most recently, Houthi rebel attacks on ships in the Red Sea, impacting the strategic Bad al-Mandeb Strait [just off Somaliland's coast]

4 Jan 24

[beardedmrbean]

Conservative calls to deport Representative Ilhan Omar over comments she purportedly made about Somalia have no legal merit, experts tell Newsweek.

The progressive Democrat, a Somali American and Muslim, has been under fire for remarks she allegedly made to Somali American constituents that have been viewed over 7 million times on X. Omar, a Somali American and Muslim, seemed to address a deal struck by Somalia's breakaway region of Somaliland with landlocked Ethiopia to give it access to the sea.

Republicans, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, have openly called for Omar to be deported, with the latter saying: "She flaunts using her position as congresswoman to protect Somalia's border while our border is invaded by MILLIONS of illegals who are a danger to America."

Immigration lawyer Rosanna Berardi told Newsweek that since Omar is a naturalized U.S. citizen, calls for deportation lack legal ground unless the individual in question gained citizenship through nefarious means such as fraud, misrepresentation or membership in certain organizations—or being dishonorably discharged from the U.S. military if citizenship was based on military service.

The Minnesota representative's statements, whether accurate or taken out of context, are also protected under the First Amendment, which extends not just to U.S. citizens but also to public officials who routinely express opinions on foreign and domestic matters and do so without fear of legal repercussions—especially deportation.

"The Immigration and Nationality Act allows for deportation/removal of individuals due to criminal activities, violations of status or violation of immigration law," Berardi said. "Deportation for expressing political views, particularly those covered by the First Amendment, is not legally supported. Political speech does not constitute a valid basis for deportation.

"In essence, we have a series of sound bites here that are legally baseless. Typical political banter."

Stephen Schnably, a law professor at the University of Miami, told Newsweek that calls for the deportation of a sitting member of Congress for expressing personal views—whether accurate or spun by political adversaries—is "far beyond the realm of any reasonable response to her remarks."

"It's just not in the cards, deportation as punishment for a U.S. citizen," he said. "That is something that just cannot be done."

He said that even if Omar's statements, as attributed by some conservatives, are taken at face value, favoring foreign country interests over U.S. interests "is not a First Amendment violation to do that." Members of Congress can say what they want, and ultimately, voters have their say in elections.

The situation would potentially be different if Omar did not hypothetically register as an agent of a foreign government, comparing Omar's casual remarks to criminal charges against Democratic Senator Bob Menendez. The New Jersey legislator and his wife are accused of accepting bribes, including gold, cash, a luxury vehicle and payments toward a home mortgage, allegedly in exchange for advancing their interests, as well as those of the Egyptian government, in his role as the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

But in Omar's case, there is no indication that anything of that sort—of "committing a well-defined crime where conduct or actions are not in accordance with a statute that is not constitutional."

Politicians make similar remarks all the time, Schnably added, saying there is nothing unusual about foreign policy positions that favor one country over another in a dispute.

Omar's alleged statements, backlash

According to one translation of Omar's remarks first shared on X by Ambassador Rhoda J. Elmi, Somaliland's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Omar purportedly said that she was "Somalian first, Muslim second" and "here to protect the interests of Somalia from inside the U.S. system."

Omar is also alleged to have said that "as Somalis, one day we will go after our missing territories."

But Omar has refuted the retelling of her statements, calling the viral clip "not only slanted but completely off," adding that she "wouldn't expect more from these propagandists."

Another translation posted online by Abdirashid Hashi, a researcher and Somalia analyst, states that Omar said that Somalis "are sisters and brothers, supporting each other, people who know they are Somalis and Muslims, coming to each other's aid."

Per that translation, she also said: "While I am in Congress, no one will take Somalia's sea. The United States will not back others to rob us. So, do not lose sleep over that, O Minnesotans. The lady you sent to Congress is on this, and she is as cognizant of this interest as you are."

Greene bashed Omar and her comments in an X post, saying: " Patriots, you must show up big in 2024. We have a country to save and people to deport."

"Expel from Congress, denaturalize and deport!" DeSantis wrote on X.

In the past, DeSantis has singled out Omar as allegedly propagating antisemitic movements within Congress. In January 2022, after a group of people wearing Nazi symbols made national headlines for yelling antisemitic slurs on streets and highway overpasses in the Orlando area, DeSantis said he would not let others shame him for his support of Jews.

"I'm not going to have people try to smear me that belong to a political party that has elevated antisemites to the halls of Congress, like (US Rep.) Ilhan Omar, that have played footsie with the (boycott Israel) movement," DeSantis said at the time.

[somalilandcurrentnews]

Somaliland tells diplomats in Hargeisa MoU with Ethiopia ‘finalized’, ‘formal legal agreement imminent’

Somaliland Ministry for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said Dr. Essa Kayd, Minister of Foreign Affairs, addressed the international diplomatic missions in Hargeisa today, providing updates on significant regional issues. The Ministry said Dr. Essa Kayd informed the diplomats he met with that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Somaliland and Ethiopia “is finalized, and a…

[saxafimedianetwork]

Somaliland Informs Diplomats in Hargeisa MoU with Ethiopia 'Finalized,' Formal Agreement Imminent

Minister of FA @DrEssaKayd briefed foreign diplomats in #Hargeisa on Wednesday. He informed them that #Somaliland-#Ethiopia #MoU is finalized, with a formal agreement imminent. A significant triumph for bilateral relations & regional dev't.

Continue reading Somaliland Informs Diplomats in Hargeisa MoU with Ethiopia ‘Finalized,’ Formal Agreement Imminent

[head-post]

Turkey works to pacify Ethiopia and Somalia

Turkey is seeking to bring Horn of Africa rivals Somalia and Ethiopia together for a second round of talks in Ankara to ease tensions between them, Turkish media reported.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met separately with his counterparts from Somalia and Ethiopia on Monday. A Turkish diplomatic source said:

“The two sides are not meeting each other. The Turkish delegation is conducting shuttle diplomacy under the coordination of our minister.”

The two neighbours have long had a territorial feud. They fought two wars in the late 20th century. These tensions escalated significantly earlier this year when Addis Ababa signed a memorandum of understanding with Somaliland that gives Ethiopia, one of the world’s largest landlocked countries, long-awaited access to the sea.

Somaliland, which unilaterally declared independence from Somalia in 1991, which was not recognised by Mogadishu, said in return that Ethiopia would give it official recognition, although these claims were not confirmed by Addis Ababa.

Under the treaty signed on January 1, Somaliland agreed to give 20 kilometres (12 miles) of its coastline on a 50-year lease to Ethiopia, which wants to establish a naval base and commercial port there.

Fidan said there had been “good progress” in the July talks and expressed hope for the future, speaking at a news conference alongside the foreign ministers of the two neighbouring countries.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is also involved in diplomatic efforts to reconcile the two sides, holding separate telephone talks with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed over the weekend.

Turkey is seeking diplomatic and economic influence in Africa at a time when many countries on the continent are turning their backs on their former colonial rulers. During Erdogan’s two decades in power, Ankara has consolidated its position on the continent, quadrupling the number of its embassies.

Turkey has already announced plans to begin oil and gas exploration off the coast of Somalia, similar to what it is doing in Libyan waters. Ankara has signed defence agreements with a number of states spanning the continent, including Somalia, Libya, Kenya, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Ghana.

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