Somalia--Since the announcement of a deal between Ethiopia and Soamlia's breakaway region of Somaliland three months ago, tensions have been breewing between the two east African neighbours and security partners.
Somalia on April 4 ordered Ethiopia’s ambassador to leave the country within 72 hours, and the closing of Ethiopia’s consulates in the region of Somaliland and the semiautonomous region of Puntland.
Diplomats and personnel stationed at the consulates must vacate Somalia within a week, according to a Cabinet resolution. Somalia’s Foreign Ministry, in addition to expelling the Ethiopian ambassador, recalled its own ambassador to Ethiopia for consultations.
The Cabinet resolution cited Ethiopia’s interference in Somalia’s "internal affairs" as the reason for the decisions.
Ethiopian officials from the embassy in the capital Mogadishu confirmed that the communication had been received.
Ethiopia signed in January, a memorandum of understanding with Somaliland, which Somalia denounced as infringing upon its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The memorandum was to allow Ethiopia’s access to the sea through Somaliland and in return Ethiopia would recognize Somaliland as an independent country.
Ethiopia is the world's most populous state without access to sea.
