Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Israel, Tesfaye Yetayeh Anteneh, stated that the threat posed by Al-Shabaab is among the reasons preventing his country from recognizing Somaliland.
He argued that recognizing Somaliland could prompt Somalia to demand the expulsion of Ethiopian troops from its territory, creating an opportunity for Al-Shabaab to launch attacks against both Somaliland and Ethiopia.
However, Somaliland’s representative to Israel, Mohamed Omar Haji Mohamoud, rejected this perspective, asserting that recognizing Somaliland would yield significant security, economic, and regional strategic benefits for Ethiopia, rather than posing a security risk.
In an interview with the Israeli media outlet i24NEWS, the Ethiopian ambassador addressed the obstacles hindering Ethiopia’s recognition of Somaliland, expressing concern over the potential impact such a move would have on relations between Addis Ababa and Mogadishu, as well as the future of Ethiopian forces deployed in Somalia.
He contended that if Ethiopia were to recognize Somaliland at this junction, Somalia might choose to demand the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops—a scenario he warned would generate a security vacuum that Al-Shabaab could exploit to threaten both Somaliland and Ethiopia.
On his part, Somaliland’s envoy to Israel, Mohamed Haji, maintained that recognizing Somaliland would bring strategic and security advantages to Ethiopia rather than creating new hazards.
‘I am convinced that the opposite is true. Ethiopia stands to gain immense strategic, economic, and security benefits from recognizing Somaliland, without incurring any security risks,’ said Mohamed Haji.
He added that Somalia’s retaliatory measures against Ethiopia are more detrimental than Somaliland’s recognition, arguing that Mogadishu is strengthening ties with nations rivaling Ethiopia and providing them with opportunities to advance their interests in the region.
The Somaliland ambassador stated that recognizing Somaliland would enable Ethiopia to strengthen its regional influence and secure a reliable strategic ally in the Horn of Africa.
He also argued that Somaliland has long demonstrated resilience and the capacity to prevent Al-Shabaab and pirates from establishing safe havens, noting that Somaliland’s local administration and security efforts make it a strategic ally that can benefit Ethiopia rather than pose a security burden.
Mohamed Haji further stated that African forces stationed in Somalia cannot be expected to remain indefinitely, calling for advanced planning for the scenario that will arise once those forces depart.
He contended that recognizing Somaliland would reinforce Ethiopia’s security, accelerate economic growth, and enhance Ethiopia’s geopolitical leverage in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region.