Somalia is now urging Ethiopia to downgrade the Somaliland Embassy in Addis Ababa to a trade office as the two countries continued with their charm offensive following the signing of the Ankara agreement.
Somalia’s State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ali Bal’ad, announced in an interview with VOA Somali that his government has reached an understanding with Ethiopia to downgrade Somaliland’s embassy in Addis Ababa to a trade office.
This came as Somalia and Ethiopia agreed to restore diplomatic representation in their respective capitals, more than a year after Somalia severed ties over a sea access agreement landlocked Ethiopia signed with Somaliland.
The announcement is the latest indication that Ethiopia and Somalia have begun to turn a corner in their relations, after a controversial memorandum Ethiopia signed with Somaliland at the start of 2024 that caused a bitter rift between the East African neighbours.
As part of the proposed agreement (between Somalia and Ethiopia) all diplomatic privileges previously accorded to Somaliland’s embassy and ambassador in Ethiopia would be revoked.
Mr Bal’ad noted that Somaliland’s embassy in Addis Ababa had previously operated with full diplomatic status, similar to that of a sovereign nation.
Additionally, Somalia has requested Ethiopia to reduce its embassy in Hargeisa to a consulate-level office under the Ethiopian Embassy in Mogadishu.
It remains uncertain whether Ethiopia will agree to and implement these demands.
Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991, claiming the borders of a former British protectorate in the region, but neither Mogadishu nor the international community recognise it. It has functioned autonomously for over three decades.
