Ethiopia warns rivals against invasion as regional tensions rise

Ethiopia’s prime minister has warned that anybody planning to invade Ethiopia ought to “suppose ten occasions” earlier than appearing, as he stated any assault could be repelled.

Abiy Ahmed didn’t goal any particular nation in his feedback, however they got here amid heightened tensions with neighbors Somalia and Egypt.

Somalia describes the maritime settlement signed by Abiy’s authorities in January with the self-proclaimed Republic of Somaliland as an act of “aggression” and has responded by forging nearer navy ties with Egypt.

Somaliland broke away from Somalia greater than 30 years in the past, however Mogadishu considers it a part of its territory.

Egypt and Ethiopia are locked in a long-running dispute over Addis Ababa’s resolution to construct a large dam on a tributary of the Nile River.

It reportedly plans to ship troops to Somalia after the 2 governments signed a navy settlement final month.

In a televised speech to mark Ethiopia’s Sovereignty Day, Abiy stated the East African nation had no intention of making battle.

Nevertheless, he stated, “folks close to and much” ought to know that “we often humiliate and repel those that dare to invade us”.

“Anybody considering of invading Ethiopia ought to suppose twice earlier than doing so, as a result of one of many nice issues we Ethiopians know is [how] To defend ourselves,” Mr Abiy added.

Landlocked Ethiopia’s resolution to strike a take care of Somaliland to permit it entry to ports has angered Somalia.

Somaliland has additionally stated it might lease a part of its coast to the Ethiopian navy in alternate for Abiy’s authorities changing into the primary to acknowledge Somalia as an unbiased nation.

Tensions within the area escalated final month after two Egyptian C-130 navy plane arrived within the Somali capital to mark the strengthening of ties between the 2 nations.

Egypt reportedly plans to ship as much as 5,000 troops to hitch the brand new African Union (AU) pressure in Somalia by the tip of the 12 months, with one other 5,000 troops to be deployed individually.

An AU pressure has been in Somalia since 2007, serving to the federal government struggle the jihadist group al-Shabab, which has waged a brutal insurgency within the nation.

Ethiopian troops are a part of this pressure, however Somalia has introduced that it should withdraw its troops subsequent 12 months.

Egypt accuses Ethiopia of threatening the water provide of the Nile River by constructing the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (Gerd) within the northern Ethiopian highlands, the place 85% of the Nile water comes from.

Gerd is Africa’s largest hydroelectric dam undertaking and Ethiopia considers it essential to assembly its power wants.