Somaliland strengthens diplomatic ties with Ethiopia amid regional tensions

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AA) - Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi on Thursday officially accepted the credentials of Ethiopia’s newly appointed ambassador, Teshome Shunde Hamito, during a formal ceremony at the presidential palace in Hargeisa.

The diplomatic event underscores the growing relationship between Somaliland and Ethiopia, despite escalating tensions with Somalia.

The Somaliland presidency announced that the acceptance of Ambassador Hamito's credentials marks a significant step in strengthening ties between the two nations. The ceremony follows recent reports suggesting that Ethiopia has elevated its consular office in Somaliland to the status of a full embassy—a claim acknowledged by Somaliland, though not yet officially confirmed by Ethiopian authorities.

During their meeting, President Bihi and Ambassador Hamito discussed critical regional security issues in the Horn of Africa and explored opportunities to enhance economic relations and bilateral cooperation.

This diplomatic development comes nearly nine months after Somaliland and Ethiopia signed a controversial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The agreement includes military cooperation and provisions for Ethiopia to lease 20 kilometers of Somaliland’s coastline, a move that has drawn sharp opposition from Somalia, which continues to assert its claim over Somaliland.

The MoU has exacerbated tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia, leading Somalia to exclude Ethiopian forces from the upcoming African Union Support Mission in Somalia. Mediation efforts, led by Türkiye, are ongoing in an attempt to find a resolution to the dispute.