Ethiopia and Somalia Exchange Strong Statements After Fighting in Dolow

Ethiopia and Somalia exchanged strong statements in the last 24 hours. Ethiopia today said that it is dismayed at the accusations leveled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Somalia.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Somalia, on Monday, accused Ethiopian troops of attacking three stations of Somalia’s forces in Dolow Gedo Jubaland regional state. The Ministry accused Ethiopia of violating recently signed Ankara Declaration by Somalia and Ethiopia.

Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in its response today, denied involvement in fighting in Dolow saying that 3rd parties and certain elements are trying to create a conflict between Ethiopia and Somalia. The Ethiopian ministry expressed its commitment to Ankara Declaration mediated between Somalia and Ethiopia by Turkiye on December 11.

In Dolow town of Jubaland, heavy fighting erupted on Monday between Jubaland regional forces and Somalia’s federal forces. The clashes began when a plane carrying Jubaland officials was to land at the Dolow airport. According to local sources, Ethiopian troops, deployed as peacekeepers in Dolow and other parts of Gedo zone, supported Jubaland regional forces against Somalia’s federal forces in yesterday’s clash.

Jubaland federal member state of Somalia and Federal Government of Somalia have been involved in a bitter political dispute for months. Jubaland held indirect regional election last month which was declared null and void by the federal government of Somalia. Ethiopian troops in Jubaland indirectly helped Jubaland regional government in holding the controversial election.

WB Approves Loan to Restructure Ethiopian Financial Sector