ADDIS ABABA – Ethiopia has reportedly upgraded its consulate in Hargeisa, the regional administrative capital of the Somaliland region, to a full-fledged embassy, which could escalate the existing conflict with Somalia.
Ali Mohamed Hassan, alias Ali Marehaan, the minister for information and culture in Somaliland, said Ethiopia had confirmed the new status of relations with Somaliland, adding that this is the ‘process towards recognition of Somaliland’.
Over the weekend, Somaliland leader Muse Bihi Abdi hinted at the development, as the region celebrated its 33rd independence day. Somaliland broke away from Somalia in 1991 but since then, it has never been recognized internationally.
In an interview with the BBC, Ali Hassan Mohamed said the decision by Ethiopia had been announced by Muse Bihi Abdi, adding that the two parties shall recognize each other as sovereign states. Ethiopia is yet to openly comment on the matter.
“Upgrading of the Ethiopian representative office in Somaliland to a fully-fledged one was officially [a piece] of bonafide information since it was revealed by none other than the President himself in his speech to the nation during the most important date of the government calendar,” he said.