Monday 9,Dec,202 {HMC}ย Somalia has reiterated its warning to Ethiopia, accusing its neighbour of undermining Somali sovereignty through arms smuggling and militia recruitment. The allegations mark a new flashpoint in regional tensions as Mogadishu struggles to consolidate security and governance.
Speaking at a press conference in Mogadishu on Friday, Deputy Minister of Information Abdirahman Yusuf Al-Adala condemned what he described as Ethiopiaโs โillegal and expansionist activities.โ The minister claimed that Ethiopia is supplying weapons to Somali regions and recruiting militias within Somali borders to destabilize the country.
โEthiopia has illegally introduced arms into Puntland and Galmudug while gathering militias from Hirshabelle within its borders. These actions serve an expansionist agenda aimed at undermining Somaliaโs sovereignty,โ Al-Adala said.
The minister further alleged that Ethiopian Airlines flights have been used to transport weapons and individuals aligned with the former Jubbaland administration. He claimed these actions were part of a broader strategy to orchestrate political instability in southern Somalia.
โTwo Ethiopian Airlines planes recently landed in Kismayo carrying illicit arms. They also transported individuals connected to the previous Jubbaland administration to aid Ethiopiaโs destabilization efforts,โ Al-Adala said, urging international scrutiny of these alleged violations.
Al-Adala stressed Somaliaโs commitment to safeguarding its territorial integrity, warning that the government would take all necessary measures to counter external aggression.
โThe Somali government will not hesitate to act decisively to protect our nationโs security and independence,โ he said, vowing to block any attempts to undermine the countryโs sovereignty.
In a pointed message to Somali nationals accused of aiding Ethiopia, Al-Adala described such actions as a betrayal, urging them to cease their activities immediately.
โWe will not tolerate individuals who align with foreign adversaries against the unity and governance of Somalia,โ he warned.
The accusations underline the fragile security landscape in the Horn of Africa, where rivalries between neighbouring states often spill into proxy conflicts. While Ethiopia has yet to respond to the allegations, analysts warn that the situation could escalate if diplomatic channels are not used to address the tensions.
Source Hiiraan Online
