Somalia, on Monday, accused Ethiopia of violating Ankara Declaration reached between the two countries on December 11. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Somalia accused Ethiopian forces of attacking three Somali security forces stations in the border city called Dolow in Gedo zone.
The Ministry said that several people had been killed in the attack. On December 11, Ethiopia and Somalia entered into a Turkey-brokered declaration in Ankara. Mogadishu and Addis Ababa committed to settling their differences through dialogue and cooperation.
The Somali Foreign Ministry, in yesterday’s statement, stated that Ethiopian troops launched an attack on its forces stationed at an airstrip in the border town of Dolow, located in Somalia’s Jubaland state, at approximately 10:00 a.m. without any prior provocation or justification. The statement added that the attack targeted three bases operated by the army, police, and the National Intelligence and Security Agency, resulting in casualties, though it did not specify the exact number.
Jubaland regional government also issued a statement. It rejected the statement issued by the Foreign Ministry. Jubaland accused Somalia’s federal forces of launching an attack on Dolow airport to stop Jubaland regional government officials from landing at the airport.
Calling the attack on Somalia’s federal forces a violation of Ankara Declaration and African Union’s Charter, the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Somalia warned that it will not watch the attack silently. Somalia made this accusation hours after Somalia’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ali Omar, arrived in Addis Ababa to talk with Ethiopian authorities about diplomatic relations.
By the end of February next year, Ethiopia and Somalia, in accordance with Ankara Declaration, will start technical talks to finalize agreements about access to sea and other bilateral issues. The renewed tension between the two Horn of Africa neighbors could jeopardize the implementation of Ankara Declaration.
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