The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Somalia, Ahmed Macalin Fiqi, strongly accused the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed, of trying to incite conflict in the Horn of Africa to divert him from the challenges in Ethiopia.
Minister Fiqi said that Somalia is taking a strong stand against any threat to its unity and independence, noting that Ethiopia’s greed can lead to widespread violence and instability in the region.
He also said that in the talks held in Ankara with Turkey as the mediator, Ethiopia has insisted on its desire for Somalia’s water and land, and Somalia will never give up on that.
“The mediation talks between Turkey and Ethiopia, we have accepted the strong relationship we have with Turkey and the world has seen that Somalia is rejecting any right path,” said Minister Fiqi.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Somalia continued his speech “I want to make it clear that Somalia is open for trade only with profitable agreements with Ethiopia. We will not allow access to the sea in a military and independent manner, as well.” We will not allow a long or short term military presence.
Minister Fiqi was responding to reports that there are Ethiopian soldiers who have sacrificed their blood for the defense of Somalia. displacement of 800 thousand Somali people.
“There are Ethiopian soldiers and the general ATMIS mission who died in the war against the Khawarij but that does not mean that we will take your sea and land. More than that we have died to liberate the country from colonial rule. We see that the Ethiopian authorities are trying to their troops must remain in Somalia, which are acting as troops that are not part of the ATMIS mission, and that is not correct, the decision of the countries that will be part of the new mission in Somalia is up to the federal government,” said Minister Ahmed Macalin Fiqi.
The minister praised the position of the Turkish government to find a solution to this crisis, hoping that the next cycle will result in a solution based on respect for international law.
Finally, it was at the beginning of this year when Ethiopia signed an agreement with Somaliland, in which it wants to have access to the Red Sea and a military base, which Somaliland recognizes as an independent state.
