Somalia: Somalia Re-Opens Embassy in Ethiopia

April 5, 2006

Addis Ababa

Somalia has decided to re-open its Ethiopian embassy after rising political tension resulted in its closure in 1991.

In response to the move, Seyoum Mesfin, Ethiopia’s foreign minister, said Ethiopia would soon open an embassy in Somalia in an effort to support the war-torn country.

Tension grew between the two countries in 1977 when Somalia invaded Ethiopia’s Somali speaking eastern region claiming that it belonged to Somalia. Civil war broke out in 1991 in Somalia as a result.

The current situation is still tense between the two countries as Somalia blames Ethiopia for playing a big part in unsettling the country and because Somalia’s large Muslim population are wary of their Christian neighbours.

Ethiopia and Eritrea are currently still locked in a border dispute.