Somalia has declared an Ethiopian diplomat working in Mogadishu a persona non grata.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused the diplomat, Ali Mohamed Adan, a counsellor at Ethiopia’s embassy in Mogadishu, of engaging in “activities incompatible with his diplomatic role.” The diplomat has been given 72 hours to leave Somalia from the moment he receives the notice.
Somalia did not provide specific details on the actions allegedly carried out by Adan but stated that they “constitute a breach of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.”
VOA’s Horn of Africa Service reached out to Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment, but received no response.
The expulsion comes amid an ongoing diplomatic dispute between Somalia and Ethiopia. The tension escalated after Addis Ababa signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Somaliland, which Somalia sees as an infringement on its sovereignty. Ethiopia and Somaliland have defended the MOU, which, if implemented, would grant Somaliland recognition from Ethiopia in exchange for leasing 20 kilometres of seafront, according to Somaliland officials.
In April, Somalia expelled Ethiopian Ambassador Muktar Mohamed Ware, accusing Ethiopia of “internal interference.” Somalia also ordered the closure of Ethiopia’s consulates in Somaliland and Puntland, although they remain operational.
Last month, Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre called on the international community to support Somalia in condemning Ethiopia’s actions, claiming Ethiopia was attempting to “annex parts of Somalia under the guise of securing sea access.”
At the time, Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister Taye Atske Selassie, now the country’s ceremonial president, rejected Barre’s comments, stating that the MOU with Somaliland was in line with Somalia’s existing political structure. “Ethiopia’s name can never be associated with any of the allegations,” Taye asserted.
