Somaliland and Puntland authorities dismiss Somalia’s warning to close Ethiopian Consulates General offices 

Ambassador Rhoda Elmi, Somaliland’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Mahmud Aydid Dirir, Puntland State Information Minister, dismissed the warning by Somalia’s federal government to close the Ethiopian Consulates General in Hargeisa and Garowe, the capital cities of Somaliland and Puntland, respectively.

Earlier today, Mogadishu told Ethiopia’s Ambassador Muktar Mohamed Ware “to depart from Somalia within the next 72 hours,” and said it has “summoned back” its envoy in Addis Abeba to Mogadishu “for comprehensive consultations.”

In the same statement, Somalia also said the Ethiopian Consulates General in Hargeisa and Garowe, the capital cities of Somaliland and Puntland, “are to be closed within a period of seven (7) days”, which is dismissed by both. (See the news here: wp.me/p7BpQh-bdo).

However, in a short interview she gave to VOA Somali, Ambassador Rhoda said the announcement was based on a “daydream” and is “irrelevant.”

Similarly, Mahmud Aydid of Puntland said the federal government of Somalia has “no jurisdiction” to close Ethiopia’s Consulate in Garowe.

Source:-AS