Somali FM Ahmed Fiqi, this week, accused Ethiopia of giving new life to Al Shabaab, an armed group fighting for years to overthrow the government of Somalia.
Ahmed Fiqi, the Foreign Minister of Somalia, in a video message this week, claimed that Somalia was on the verge of defeating Al Shabaab. But the MoU signed by Ethiopia with Somaliland gave new life to the armed group.
In January this year, Ethiopia signed a controversial MoU with Somaliland. The Memorandum of Understanding, if implemented, would give landlocked Ethiopia access to sea through Somaliland. In return, Somaliland, struggling for years to be recognized as a country, would get recognition as a country from Ethiopia.
Since day one, Somalia has been opposing the MoU, calling it an attack on its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Somaliland is recognized as part of Somalia by international community.
While Ethiopia and Somaliland are gearing up to implement the MoU, Somalia has upped the ante to stop the MoU from turning into an agreement.
For more than a decade, Somalia has been fighting against Al Shabaab, an armed group in control of large parts in Somalia. Ahmed Fiqi’s claims that Somalia was close to defeating Al Shabaab do not correspond with reality on the ground.
Despite several military operations launched against Al Shabaab by government in Somalia, Al Shabaab’s capabilities could not be seriously degraded.
Al Shabbab opposed the Ethiopia-Somaliland MoU. In a statement issued in January this year, the armed group termed the MoU an attempt to annex Somali territories.
Al Shabab could use the MoU to conduct more recruitment and strengthen its narrative against Somalia’s government. But it would be exaggeration to say that Ethiopia-Somaliland MoU gave new life to the armed group.
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