ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Ethiopia expressed dismay on Tuesday over allegations made by Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding an incident in the border town of Doolow, Somalia, on December 23, 2024.
According to a statement from Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the claims of Ethiopian forces attacking Somali positions are “not true.” The ministry accused “certain elements” of instigating the incident with the intent to derail the normalization of relations between the two nations and to destabilize the Horn of Africa region.
The statement emphasized that these third parties are “perennial spoilers of peace” and should not be allowed to disrupt the commitment to peace as outlined in the Ankara Declaration. “The Government of Ethiopia will continue working with the relevant agencies of the Federal Government of Somalia to prevent similar incidents,” the statement read.
Furthermore, Ethiopia reaffirmed its commitment to revitalizing and deepening the fraternal relations with Somalia, highlighting the importance of the Ankara Declaration in fostering bilateral partnership and broader regional cooperation.
“The resolve and courage of the leaders of the two countries will also continue to bolster the bilateral partnership and broader regional cooperation,” the ministry concluded.
The incident in Doolow has escalated tensions at a time when both countries were engaged in diplomatic efforts to strengthen their ties post-Ankara agreement.
