Friday November 1, 2024
FILE - Mustafa Mohammed Omar, known as “Cagjar,” President of Ethiopia’s Somali Regional State, addresses the media during a press conference.
Mogadishu (HOL) — Mustafa Mohammed Omar, known by his nickname “Cagjar,” President of Ethiopia’s Somali Regional State, has voiced his support for Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s push for dialogue to bridge the growing chasm between Ethiopia and Somalia. In a statement shared on social media, Cagjar emphasized his alignment with Abiy’s fresh diplomatic approach.
The call for peaceful dialogue follows months of strained relations between the two countries. The tension spiked in January when Ethiopia struck a 50-year lease agreement with Somaliland, granting it access to a 20-kilometer stretch of coastline. The deal was important for landlocked Ethiopia, a nation whose reliance on Djibouti for maritime trade has long been an economic strain. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed defended the move as a “development agreement,” asserting that Ethiopia’s intentions were financial, not aggressive.
However, for Somalia, which has steadfastly refused to acknowledge Somaliland’s 1991 self-declared independence, the agreement was an affront to its sovereignty. In response, Somalia expelled Ethiopia’s ambassador in April, shut down Ethiopian consulates in Somaliland and Puntland, and, more recently, declared another senior Ethiopian diplomat persona non grata for alleged interference in internal affairs.
Cagjar’s support for dialogue reflects a bid to soothe tensions at a time when the stakes are high. Somalia’s actions have not been limited to diplomacy; its strategic alliances have added new dimensions to the conflict. Egypt, embroiled in its own power struggle with Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), has entered the equation, sending military aid to Somalia for the first time in over four decades. Eritrea, once Ethiopia’s sworn enemy, has similarly allied with Somalia, encircling Addis Ababa.
The consequences of escalating tensions are not limited to diplomatic rows. Ethiopia’s 10,000 troops stationed in Somalia have been commended in the past for the fight against the al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab. Nevertheless, they are at risk of being expelled if Somalia follows through on its warnings.