Wednesday April 3, 2024
Ethiopian State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Mesganu Arga, meets Puntland's Finance Minister, Mohammed Farah Mohammed, in Addis Ababa. Source: FANABC
Addis Ababa (HOL) — Ethiopia's State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Mesganu Arga, met with a delegation from Puntland on Wednesday led by its Finance Minister, Mohammed Farah Mohammed. The meeting occurred amid ongoing constitutional dispute between Puntland and the Somali federal government.
Puntland intends to function independently from Somalia pending a public referendum on recent constitutional amendments. These amendments, ratified last Saturday, facilitate direct presidential elections and empower the president to appoint a prime minister without parliamentary consent.
The meeting also puts a spotlight on Ethiopia once again, whose recent actions have sparked controversy, especially after signing a contentious Memorandum of Understanding with Somaliland, which asserts its independence and which Somalia considers a violation of its sovereignty and a threat to national unity. There are indications that Ethiopia might abandon its recognition plans for Somaliland, following global pressures aimed at mitigating regional discord, as per a Bloomberg report.
During their discussions, the Ethiopian and Puntland officials examined prospects for cooperation in trade, investment, energy, and infrastructure development.
Ambassador Mesganu congratulated Puntland on its recent electoral success and reaffirmed Ethiopia's dedication to its partnership with Puntland.