MOGADISHU, Somalia — Ethiopia’s ambassador to Somalia, Suleiman Dedefo, accused the Arab League of serving Egypt’s interests instead of addressing member states’ issues.
Dedefo’s remarks followed former Somaliland President Muse Bihi’s admission that Somalia’s diplomatic campaign forced Ethiopia to abandon a maritime deal with Somaliland.
On social media, Dedefo criticized the Arab League for opposing Ethiopia over Nile River issues while ignoring conflicts in Arab countries.
The Arab League recently condemned Ethiopia’s continued construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam without a legally binding water-sharing agreement.
Egypt says the dam threatens its water security while Ethiopia insists on its sovereign right to utilize natural resources.
Dedefo dismissed Egypt’s concerns as baseless and vowed Ethiopia would continue building dams, urging Egyptian leaders to pursue cooperative relations instead.
Diplomatic pressure on Addis Ababa increased as Somalia’s efforts, supported by regional bodies, helped block Ethiopia’s plan to lease Somaliland’s coastline.
Muse Bihi said Egypt led the campaign within the Arab League, while the Organization of Islamic Cooperation supported Somalia politically.
Ethiopia was warned the African Union might move its headquarters from Addis Ababa, pressuring Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to reconsider his policies.
The maritime agreement’s failure was a diplomatic win for Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who called it a violation of sovereignty.
Now, Ethiopia faces regional criticism over Nile policies and maritime ambitions. This also challenges its reliance on Djibouti’s ports for access.
Ethiopia’s water and maritime strategies also face mounting diplomatic challenges as the country moves toward inaugurating the GERD amid regional tensions.
