Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed defended his controversial Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreement with the secessionist region of Somaliland’s President Muse Bihi in January 2024.
The agreement, centering on Ethiopia’s access to the sea and the establishment of a base in the Somali Sea, had previously led to tensions between the Somali federal government and Ethiopia.
In response to widespread social media reports claiming that Ethiopia had rescinded the agreement, a statement was released by the Prime Minister’s office, dismissing these claims as false.
The statement emphasized that official communications on internal, regional, and international affairs would be exclusively released through the official website of the Prime Minister’s office and cautioned against the dissemination of misinformation.
“The PMO advises the public to be cautious of fake content circulating online about an MOU with Somaliland. Official communications on local, regional, and int’l matters are only through PMO’s official channels. Stay vigilant against such fake content misusing our official logo”. the statement read.
The Ethiopian Prime Minister’s decisive message, reaffirming the country’s commitment to the agreement with Somaliland, underscores Ethiopia’s continued support of the accord amid ongoing efforts to facilitate dialogue between Ethiopia and Somalia.
