The President of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh, has accused Ethiopia of causing floods in Somalia. Somalia and Ethiopia have been in dispute since the start of this year.
The President, in an interview with the Economist, said that Ethiopia had released water from its water reservoirs causing flooding in Somalia. Somalia’s Shabelle, South West and other state are battling floods these days. Two river of Somalia, Shabelle and Juba, originate from Ethiopia.
Earlier this month, the President of Somalia accused Ethiopia of arming and funding clan leaders in border states of Somalia. Yesterday, Ahmed Moallim Figi, the Foreign Minister of Somalia, claimed that Somalia had intercepted 2 weapons shipment illegally sent by Ethiopia. The arms shipments were meant for elements in southern, central and northern states of Somalia. A week ago, the Foreign Ministry of Somalia, accused Ethiopia of transporting 2 lorries full of weapons to Puntland state of Somalia.
Ethiopia has not officially responded to these allegations so far. Hassan Sheikh, the President of Somalia, in his interview with the Economist, warned that Somalia could retaliate and back disgruntled elements in the Somali region of Ethiopia.
Unprecedented tensions have been rising between Ethiopia and Somalia since January this year. In January this year, landlocked Ethiopia signed an MoU with Somaliland to gain access to sea. Somaliland is internationally recognized part of Somalia, but it has been existing as a separate entity. According to Somaliland, Ethiopia will recognize Somaliland as a country in return for gaining access to sea through Somaliland. Additionally, Ethiopia intends to build a naval base in Somalia. Somalia rejects the MoU calling it a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
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