Khamiis 17-10-2024 {HMC} Somalia’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Ahmed Moalim Fiqi, announced that the Ethiopian Embassy, located inside the Somali Presidential Palace since 2007, will remain there for the time being, despite growing concerns from the Somali government.
Ethiopia established its embassy in Villa Somalia following its military intervention in Mogadishu in December 2006 to support Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government (TFG) against insurgent groups like the Islamic Courts Union (ICU).
While the Somali government is dissatisfied with the embassy’s presence in the complex, Fiqi emphasized that moving the embassy now could cause diplomatic repercussions, particularly for Somalia’s embassy in Ethiopia, which is also in a highly important area.
“The Ethiopian Embassy was placed in the Presidential Palace with the approval of Somalia’s leadership at the time, following Ethiopia’s military intervention in 2007. Their relocation now depends on the stabilization of Somalia, and once conditions allow, all foreign embassies will be directed to move to areas designated by the government,” Fiqi said.
Fiqi also revealed that the Somali government is considering “drastic measures” if Ethiopia does not end its MoU agreement with the breakaway region of Somaliland, which has been perceived as a challenge to Somalia’s sovereignty. One potential measure is the withdrawal of Ethiopian forces from Somalia by January 1st.
Source Hiiraan Online
