ADDIS ABABA (SD) – Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ethiopia, Nebiat Getachew, welcomed dialogue to resolve the dispute with Somalia.

Nebiat Getachew supported Kenya and Uganda’s plans to mediate the maritime dispute between Ethiopia, Somalia, and Somaliland.

When asked about the Somali government’s decision to remove Ethiopian troops from the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia, he avoided directly addressing the question but stated that Ethiopian forces would continue fighting Al-Shabaab.

Kenyan President William Ruto recently mentioned that he and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni would discuss with the leaders of Somalia and Ethiopia to ease tensions in the Horn of Africa.

The Somali government has stated it will not engage in dialogue with Ethiopia until it reverses the maritime agreement between Addis Ababa and Somaliland, which involved an exchange of recognition and maritime territory.

This statement from Ethiopia comes at a time when the Somali government has strongly condemned what it calls “malicious actions” being carried out by the Ethiopian government in the Gedo region, which involve inciting conflict among the local clans. These actions are seen as part of Addis Ababa’s interference against the sovereignty and independence of Somalia.