• He insisted that Abiy’s confrontational stance regarding port access has strained relationships with neighboring nations.
• The opposition leader said these nations were once characterized by collaboration and mutual respect.
Image: Handout
Somalia opposition party, Alliance for The Future Party leader, Abshir Aden Ferro has called out Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed for causing divisions in the region.
According to Abshir, the Ethiopian PM's actions have not only created fractures within Ethiopia but have also transformed what was once a domestic issue into a broader geopolitical challenge.
He said this could be aimed at obscuring his previous failures.
“Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s actions have further deepened divisions within the region after creating divisions within his own country, transforming what was once an internal matter into a geopolitical issue to cover his previous failures," Abshir said.
He insisted that Abiy’s confrontational stance regarding port access has strained relationships with neighboring nations.
The opposition leader said these nations were once characterized by collaboration and mutual respect.
"His aggressive stance on port access has damaged relationships with neighboring countries."
Abshir warned of consequences that could have devastating outcome for the economy and security.
He noted that the escalating tensions instigated by the Ethiopian PM have attracted the attention of external powers.
He cited Egypt’s move to have a security cooperation with Somalia. He equated it to Egypt increasingly asserting its influence in the region.
"This shift highlights the growing complexity of the situation, raising serious concerns that regional instability could draw in additional international actors."
Tension has been escalating between Somalia and Ethiopia since the signing of a controversial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with breakaway Somaliland.
This week, the escalation was as a result of Egypt implementing a security cooperation with Somalia where some of its Soldiers arrived to replace ATMIS, which has been fighting terrorists in the country.
Ethiopia protested the move saying that a new force coming in would make the situation fraught with dangers for the region.
It warned that it could not stand idle while other actors are taking measures to destabilize the region.
Reports now say that Ethiopia is gearing up to deploy its army to the Somali border, alongside regional security forces that have been countering threats from Al-Shabab.
In the deal signed on New Year’s Day by Ethiopian PM Abiy, Somaliland will lease a 20km (12-mile) section of its coastline for 50 years to set up a naval base.
The Federal Government of Somalia termed the agreement illegal.
Somaliland broke away from Somalia more than 30 years ago, but Mogadishu regards it very much as part of its territory.
Somaliland broke away from Somalia more than 30 years ago, but Mogadishu regards it very much as part of its territory - and described the deal as an act of “aggression”.