MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Tuesday said his government has no intention of harming the neighboring nation of Somalia after a sea access deal with the break-away region of Somaliland irked authorities in Mogadishu.
Speaking to members of parliament, Abiy said many Ethiopians were killed fighting the Islamist group Al-Shabaab to help Somali authorities quell more than a decade-long insurgency and restore peace.
“Ethiopia, being a friend, does not wish any harm to come upon Somalia. Ethiopia does not acknowledge war against any country in principle. However, some forces are trying to incite conflict between the two nations, which should not happen,” Abiy told MPs.
“Our request is for sea access based on mutual interest. This is useful not only for Ethiopia but also for regional cooperation.”
It came a day after Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said his government will only talk to Ethiopia once it retracted a memorandum of understanding in which it leased a parcel of land along the Red Sea from the separatist region of Somaliland. read more
On Sunday, gunmen killed seven people, including six Ethiopian nationals and injured a number of others in an overnight attack in southern Somalia border town of Beled Hawo in Gedo region. No one has yet claimed responsibility. read more
Contact us: info@somaliguardian.com
