Somalia has warned that backing Ethiopian anti government armed groups is an option. Somalia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs said Somalia will consider establishing contacts with and supporting rebels fighting in Ethiopia if the Ethiopian government goes ahead and attempts to implement the deal it signed with Somaliland.
The Foreign Minister, Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, was answering a question asked by the local Universal TV on Thursday.
“The option to have contacts with armed rebels in Ethiopia or rebels that are fighting against the Ethiopia regime – if it continues this, to have contact with them is an option open to Somalia, it’s a door open to us,” he said.
Fiqi said the situation has not yet reached that stage. “But still we have not reached that stage, there is a hope there will be a solution. But it a path open to us…it’s the correct thing to go there, to take that path to meet them, to support them, to standby them. But that will come when they continue their hostility, and attempt to implement the so-called agreement,” he said.
Asked if the Somali government has a plan to make contact with TPLF?
“We discussed that, but at this time the collapse of Ethiopia is not in the interest of Somalia and the Horn of Africa region. But if they continue to [support] those opposing Somalia and with the secessionist groups they have signed agreements with, it’s is an option for us,” he said.
Since January this year, Ethiopia and Somalia have been at loggerheads over a controversial Memorandum of Understanding signed by Ethiopia and Somaliland. The MoU has not been implemented. Somalia calls this MoU a violation of its territorial integrity and sovereignty.
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