ADDIS ABABA (SD) – Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is said to be “irked” that Hamza Abdi Barre has been appointed as Somalia’s 21st prime minister, Africa Intelligence reports.

Hamza, who hails from Jubaland, is very close to Jubaland President Ahmed Madobe, who is said to be close to Somali region’s opposition, according to the newspaper report.

The opposition is said to include supporters of former Somali regional president Abdi Iley, who has been allied with the TPLF, which has been fighting the Abiy government since November 2020.

The appointment of Hamza Barre, the first Jubalander to hold the post in Somalia, delighted ONLF officials, whose leaders also went to Mogadishu to attend Hassan Sheikh’s inauguration, before the appointment of the PM.

The president of the Somali region of Ethiopia, Mustafe Cagjar, who is very close to Abiy Ahmed, is also said not be happy with the appointment of Hamze Barre as Somalia’s 21st PM.

Africa Intelligence reports that President Mustafe Cagjar banned a ceremony in Jigjiga on June 20th to celebrate the appointment of Hamza Abdi Barre as prime minister.

Abiy Ahmed, a close ally of the former Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, and is at odds with President Hassan Sheikh, who has repeatedly criticized his policies during his time in opposition.

It is unpredictable how the appointment of Hamza Barre and the previous conflict will affect relations between the two countries, but Hassan Sheikh’s government has promised to deal well with countries in the world.