Somalia Government Issues Conflicting Press Releases on Ethiopia

[Deeq A.]

Mogadishu (PP News Desk) — The Federal Government of Somalia yesterday issued two conflicting press releases on relations with Ethiopia. One press release focused on the visit of Ali Omar, the State Minister for Foreign Affairs, to Ethiopia, whereas the second press release pertains to clashes in Doolow between Jubaland Forces and the Somali National Army.

“Somalia has an unwavering commitment to deepening bilateral ties with Ethiopia,” reads a press statement from the Somali Foreign Ministry regarding the visit to Ethiopia. The statement was released shortly before reports emerged alleging that Somali Army contingents in Doolow attacked positions held by Jubaland Forces in the district.

The two conflicting press releases issued by the Somali Foreign Ministry.

Within hours, the Somali Foreign Ministry issued another press release accusing Ethiopian peacekeepers of launching an “unprovoked and unexpected attack” on positions held by the Somali National Army (SNA) in Doolow, located in Gedo.

This incident comes just a week after the Federal Government of Somalia reversed its decision to exclude Ethiopian forces from peacekeeping operations in Somalia starting in 2025.

While Ali Omar is visiting Addis Ababa, Somali Foreign Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi is in Cairo, where he announced that Egyptian troops would join the peacekeeping forces in Somalia in 2025.

© Puntland Post, 2024

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