ADIS ABABA (SD)-The Ethiopian government has promoted its representative in Hargeisa, Somaliland, to a full Ambassador despite the Somali government’s previous order to close Ethiopia’s consulate in Hargeisa.

The move to promote its representative to the rank of full ambassador signifies Ethiopia’s recognition of Somaliland as an independent entity.

Recently, Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde appointed 24 ambassadors, among whom was the former Ethiopian representative to Somaliland, who has now been made a full ambassador.

Among those granted full ambassadorship was Ambassador Delil Kedir Bushra, who was previously an ordinary representative in Hargeisa, the capital of the self-declared republic of Somaliland.

This appointment, which appears to be Ethiopia’s way of recognizing Somaliland, comes at a time when the Somali Federal government had earlier ordered the closure of Ethiopia’s consulates in the cities of Hargeisa and Garowe.