By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Authorities in Somalia have accused the neighbouring Ethiopia of sending “unauthorized shipment of arms and ammunition” to semi-autonomous region of Puntland considered as Somalian territory, alleging infringement.
Ethiopia transported two lorries carrying weapons via Ethiopian territory to the Puntland region, Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs alleged in a statement on Friday, condemning the move without mentioning when the arm shipment was done.
“This action constitutes a grave infringement on Somalia’s sovereignty and poses serious implications for national and regional security,” the statement noted.
The shipment was “executed without any diplomatic engagement or clearance”, Somalia alleges.
Puntland State of Somalia is an autonomous territory formed in 1998 that became a Federal Member State. Puntland is located in the northeastern part of Somalia and its state capital is the city of Garoowe in the Nugal region.
Heritage Times HT reports that the relations between Ethiopia and Somalia have been severely strained after Addis Ababa signed an MoU with self-declared republic of Somaliland, a former British protectorate also considered a territory of Somalia.
The deal gives landlocked Ethiopia long-desired access to the Red Sea, one of the world’s busiest shipping routes.
Somaliland which proclaimed its independence since 1991 not recognised internationally.
During the signing of the MoU Addis Ababa, the breakaway territory said Ethiopia is the first to recognize it as a sovereign nation.
Djibouti in a bid to defuse the diplomatic row between Ethiopia and Somalia offered Addis Ababa its new port with a proposal for joint management of the facility.
