Somalia has strongly criticized Ethiopia for what it deems a “provocative attempt” to obstruct Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud from attending the 2024 African Union Summit in Addis Ababa.
The Somali government condemned the incident as a breach of diplomatic and international protocols, as well as the established traditions of the African Union.
In a statement released by the Somali National News Agency SONNA, the Federal Republic of Somalia expressed its concern about Ethiopia’s actions, stating that they add to the growing list of erratic behaviors by the Ethiopian government in recent times.
The incident occurred as both countries are already at odds over a contentious maritime pact between Ethiopia and Somaliland.
The statement emphasized that, as the host of the African Union headquarters, Ethiopia has an obligation to treat all African leaders equally.
It called hosting the AU an honor and privilege but warned that failure to uphold the necessary decorum might prompt the African Union to reconsider the location of its headquarters.
Describing the incident as “outrageous conduct,” the Somali government called for a full and independent investigation by the African Union.
President Mohamud, after gaining entry to the summit, claimed that Ethiopian security had blocked his way and called for a credible investigation into the matter.
Ethiopia countered, stating that the Somali delegation was blocked due to its security detail attempting to enter a venue with weapons.
The conflicting narratives highlight the need for an impartial inquiry to address the diplomatic dispute.
