Ethiopia’s New Ambassador To Somalia Tenders Credentials 

Borkena

Toronto – In what appears to be an additional indication of normalcy of relations between Ethiopia and Somalia, Ambassador Suleiman Dedefo has formally tendered credentials to President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud at “Villa Somalia” in Mogadishu.

News Release the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia shared on its social media page highlights that Ambassador Suleiman Dedefo is taking the role of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the Federal Republic of Somalia.

Somalia’s President has also accepted the credentials of Ambassadors from some other countries too. Ambassadors from Ghana, Ivory Coast, Mexico, Venezuela, Korea, Mauritania and Iraq have also submitted credentials, as disclosed by Villa Somalia.

From the MFAE update, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud made remarks during the ceremony at Villa Somalia.  He expressed, “gratitude to the government and people of Ethiopia for their support in the peace-building process in Somalia.

Furthermore, he reportedly underscored the need for establishing joint commissions in a range of areas  “to advance shared interests and identify priorities between the two sisterly countries,” as reported by the Ministry. 

Ethiopia’s new ambassador to Mogadishu is said to have expressed desire and commitment to strengthen the relations between the two countries, particularly diplomatic and economic ties. Ethiopia has raised the importance of coordinated effort on the issue of regional security. 

The relationship between the two countries had been tense for most of 2024 over the Memorandum of Understanding Ethiopia and Somaliland signed on January 1, 2024 – a deal that was to grant Ethiopia a 20 kilometers stretches of coastal land for maritime activity purpose and military base in return for recognition for the state of Somaliland.  A Turkish mediation ended the hostility with the signing of the Ankara Declaration which was signed in December 2024. 

Notably, in April 2024 Somalia declared Ethiopian Ambassador to Somalia , Muktar Mohamed Ware, persona non grata and the ambassador was asked to leave the country within 72 hours. 

The relation between the two countries has shown a remarkable improvement this year. The heads of government of the two counties have exchanged official visits to Addis Ababa and Mogadishu. However, Somalia seems to be maintaining the alliances (political and military) it was chasing in the Horn of Africa and North Africa in response to what it considered Ethiopia’s violation of its sovereignty. Somalia sees Somaliland as part of its sovereign land although the latter has been existing as a de facto state at least for 34 years now.    

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