MOGADISHU (Somaliguardian) – President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s decision to appoint Hamza Abdi Barre as Somalia’s Prime Minister irked Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Africa Intelligence reported, as diplomatic relations between the countries have soured since Farmajo left office in May.
New Somali Prime Minister comes from the sub-clan of TPLF-aligned former President of Ethiopian Somali region Abdi Iley and is a close associate of Jubaland President Ahmed Madobe, who is accused of hosting members of the Tigrayan-backed previous regional administration.
In response to the appointment of Barre as Somali Premier, Ethiopian government banned a ceremony that was due to be held in the town of Jigjiga to celebrate Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s historic decision.
Ethiopia had far-reaching relations with the government of former Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo but it’s not yet clear how Mohamud’s recent decision would affect already strained diplomatic ties with Addis Ababa, whose troops are part of African Union peacekeeping mission aimed at fighting Al-Qaeda-affiliated Al-Shabaab militants.
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