Ethiopia has dismissed an untrue allegations by Somalia that its forces invaded a border town in the neighbouring country and attributed the latest diplomatic tension to “certain elements intent on derailing the normalisation of relations between Ethiopia and Somalia.”
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the incident was “instigated by certain elements” who are “intent on destabilising the Horn of Africa,” describing the unnamed people or countries as “perennial spoilers of peace in the region.”
It added that such actors “should not be allowed to frustrate the commitment of the two countries to peace as expressed in the Ankara Declaration.”
Somalia on Monday issued a statement accusing Ethiopia of invading the border town of Doolow in its Gedo region.
It described the act as a “blatant act of aggression” by Ethiopian forces in the town.
Somalia alleged that Ethiopian troops had launched an “unprovoked and unexpected attack” on Somali National Army, National Intelligence and Security Agency and Somali Police Force bases, reportedly causing fatalities and injuries.
Mogadishu described the attack as a violation of the Ankara Declaration and regional principles, while noting that its timing was particularly concerning as it coincided with “ongoing peace efforts.”
The Ethiopian ministry said it would “continue working with the relevant agencies of the Federal Government of Somalia to prevent similar incidents” and reaffirmed Addis Ababa’s commitment to “revitalise and deepen the fraternal relations between the two countries in the spirit of the Ankara Declaration.”
The statement said the resolve and courage of the leaders of the two countries would also continue to bolster the bilateral partnership and broader regional cooperation.
MG/jn/APA