Thursday January 4, 2024

Somali-American Nadia Mohamed Sworn in as US Council Mayor. CREDIT: NEWS CENTRAL

The city councilor of St. Louis Park in the US state of Minnesota has sworn in 27-year-old Nadia Mohamed as mayor, two months after she made history as America’s first Somali-American elected mayor by voters.

Ms Mohamed secured 58% of the vote to win last November’s mayoral poll.

She is also the youngest and the first Muslim and black elected mayor in the city, but has said that she wants to be known for more than her identity.

“Well, my identity is one part of my story, right? I am proud of everything that I am, but I don’t want that to be the only story. I don’t want that to [be] where people stop their conversation,” Ms Mohamed told Minneapolis-based KARE TV station after her election.

She has listed public safety and affordable housing as some of the key issues she intends to tackle as mayor.

Ms Mohamed was elected to the city’s council in 2019 at 23.

Her family moved to Minnesota from Kenya’s Kakuma refugee camp when she was 10, after fleeing war in Somalia.

In 2021, Deqa Dhalac was appointed the first Somali-American mayor by the councillors of the city of South Portland in the state of Maine.

Ms Mohamed, however, is the first Somali-American mayor to be elected by the public.

Thursday January 4, 2024

The United States on Wednesday rejected international recognition for breakaway Somaliland and called for calm after the region’s leaders signed a deal with Ethiopia.

Somalia accused landlocked Ethiopia of attacking its sovereignty after Addis Ababa reached the agreement with Somaliland that gives long-sought access to the Red Sea.

Somaliland, a former British protectorate of about 4.5 million people, declared independence from Somalia in 1991, a move not recognized internationally and staunchly opposed by Mogadishu.

“The United States recognizes the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia within its 1960 borders,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters.

“We join other partners in expressing our serious concern,” he said, “about the resulting spike in tensions in the Horn of Africa.”

“We urge all stakeholders to engage in diplomatic dialogue,” he said.

Somaliland president Muse Bihi Abdi, who signed the deal with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, said that in return for providing sea access, Ethiopia would “formally recognize” Somaliland.

The Ethiopian government has not confirmed that it would recognize Somaliland. Somalia has withdrawn its ambassador from Addis Ababa and vowed to defend its sovereignty.

But Somalia has been in near constant chaos the past three decades. Somaliland has been seen as offering an oasis of stability, although it has failed to achieve international recognition.

Ethiopia was cut off from the coast after Eritrea seceded and declared independence in 1993 following a three-decade war, forcing Africa’s second-most populous nation to channel commerce through an expensive arrangement with Djibouti.

Harun Maruf
Thursday January 4, 2024

Ethiopia’s government is defending a maritime access deal signed with the self-declared republic of Somaliland, a day after Somalia declared the deal “null and void.”

In a statement issued on Wednesday, landlocked Ethiopia said it has a “longstanding cooperation agreement” with Somaliland, and that “consultations on mutual benefits have been going on for months.”

“No party or country will be affected by this MOU [Memorandum of Understanding],” the statement read. “There is no broken trust … [nor] any laws that have been transgressed.”

Under the deal signed on Monday by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi, Somaliland will grant naval and commercial sea access on lease to Ethiopia for 50 years.

Somaliland also said that Ethiopia will officially recognize the Republic of Somaliland as an independent country once the agreement is officially signed. Ethiopia did not explicitly confirm or deny that part of the agreement.

“The document gives Ethiopia the opportunity to obtain a permanent and reliable naval base and commercial maritime service in the Gulf of Aden through a lease arrangement, and according to the government’s announced position, it allows Somaliland to acquire an equivalent share of the lease from Ethiopian Airlines,” a statement by Ethiopia said.

“Beyond that, it also includes provisions for the Ethiopian government to make an in-depth assessment towards taking a position regarding the efforts of Somaliland to gain recognition.”

Somaliland has operated independently since 1991 but has not gained recognition as a sovereign country from any nation. The Somali government insists the territory remains part of Somalia.

Monday’s deal was strongly rejected by the federal government of Somalia, which recalled its ambassador from Addis Ababa in protest.

“The Somali government recognizes Ethiopia’s actions as a blatant violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia,” read a statement issued by the Somali government on Tuesday.

“The Somali government, with the support of its people, is ready to defend, protect and preserve the sovereignty, dignity, territorial integrity, and social unity.”

Ethiopia said it is not seeking confrontation.

“The position announced by the government is strongly rooted in a desire to not engage in a war with anyone; to ensure that the options pursued are mutually beneficial to all stakeholders,” it said. “We have made great effort to explain our position to all who are able and willing to listen.”

U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said Washington is concerned by the reports.

“We join other partners in expressing our serious concern … about the resulting spike in tensions in the Horn of Africa. We urge all stakeholders to engage in diplomatic dialogue,” he said during a Wednesday press briefing.

“The United States recognizes the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of the federal republic of Somalia within its 1960 borders.”

Residents protest deal

In Somalia’s capital, residents rallied at a soccer stadium Wednesday to condemn the deal.

“Somaliland cannot hand over the Somali land,” said one protester. “What Muse Bihi did is wrong.”

Somalia’s Minister of Interior, Federal and Reconciliation Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, who spoke at the demonstration, said the Somali government will not accept the move by the Ethiopian prime minister.

“By entering this so-called agreement is like [Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed] saying there is no Somali government. Are we going to accept that from Abiy?” he said, as the crowd chanted “No.”

In Hargeisa, there have been rival demonstrations, with one supporting the deal and another opposing it, according to VOA reporter Hamse Ali Jesto.

The Somaliland cabinet backed the deal at a meeting on Wednesday.

“The cabinet of the Somaliland republic expresses to the international community that Somaliland republic is an independent country, and is also in control of its land, sea and air,” Information Minister Ali Hassan Mohamed said.

He alleged the statement from the Somali government in Mogadishu on the deal violates past agreements between Somalia and Somaliland.

Somalia calls for ‘appropriate action’

Meanwhile, Somalia urged the head of the East African Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to withdraw a statement made earlier on the diplomatic tension between the two sides.

In the statement, Workneh Gebeyehu had expressed “deep concern regarding recent developments in relations between the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Federal Government of Somalia.”

“Given the circumstances, the Executive Secretary … appeals to the two sisterly countries to collaborate towards a peaceful and amicable resolution of the situation, upholding the shared values that unite the IGAD family,” statement said.

Somalia expressed dissatisfaction with the statement, saying it “falls short of condemning the Ethiopian Government of violating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia.”

“The federal government of Somalia disagrees with the content of the statement issued by the Executive Secretary and considers it to be in favour of the Ethiopian Government,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in statement.

“The federal government of Somalia calls upon Executive Secretary to immediately apologize, withdraw the statement and take the appropriate action.”

A statement issued by the European Union emphasized the “importance of respecting the unity, the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia pursuant of its constitution, the Charters of the African Union and the United Nations.”

“This is key for the peace and stability of the entire Horn of Africa region,” the brief statement read.

The Somali National Army (SNA) is to receive “military equipment designed to deliver lethal force” from the European Peace Facility (EPF) of the European Union Council (EUC).

The assistance, valued at US $1,1 million, will, according to an EUC statement, “strengthen the capacity of the SNA to be trained at the General Dhagabadan training centre, with a view to restore safety and security in the country and protect the civilian population”.

Josep Borrell, EUC High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said: “The EU is determined to help the SNA assume full responsibility over security operations in Somalia. Our joint interest remains security and stability in the country.”

The ammunition will be supplied “solely” for training SNA personnel, in conjunction with the EU training mission in Somalia. Musketry apart, the training will see Somali soldiers given full insight into the relevant parts of international law, particularly as regards human rights and humanitarian law.

This capacity-building support through the EU Training Mission in Somalia is coupled with the Euro 69 million worth of equipment and supplies delivered to the SNA since 2019 and remains essential for Somalia to be in better control of its security.

The EPF was established in March 2021 to finance all common foreign and security policy (CFSP) actions in military and defence areas, with the aim of preventing conflict, preserving peace and strengthening international security and stability. It allows the EU to finance military and defence actions.