MOGADISHU, Somalia — A senior Puntland official praised Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam, calling Ethiopia Puntland’s “first brother” and revealing a financial contribution.
General Said Dheere, a top Puntland military officer, spoke Thursday at a ceremony marking the near completion of the controversial Nile dam.
He credited Ethiopia for supporting Somalia during years of civil conflict, saying Somalia’s government owes much to Ethiopian assistance.
“Only Ethiopia, besides God, has made it possible to reclaim Somalia,” Dheere said.
Dheere called Ethiopia Puntland’s closest ally, citing military backing and equipment that helped restore Somali government stability.
The support for Ethiopia is widely seen as part of a growing rift between Puntland’s leadership and Somalia’s Federal Government.
Puntland President Said Deni is in a bitter political dispute with Federal President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, escalating tensions recently.
Despite Ethiopia’s past aggression, Puntland appears to be aligning itself firmly with Addis Ababa and its strategic interests.
Last year, Ethiopia attempted to claim 20 kilometers of Somalia’s coastline via a memorandum of understanding with breakaway Somaliland.
This alignment is viewed as a move to antagonize Somalia’s Federal Government, which maintains close ties with Egypt.
Egypt, dependent on the Nile, opposes the dam, seeing it as a threat to its water security.
Puntland’s Interior Minister Abdi Farah Juxa announced the region contributed $1,000 toward dam financing, calling it a “great achievement.”
“We hope it will bring affordable electricity and boost economic development,” Juxa said, noting his personal $1,000 share.
Puntland is the first Somali federal member state to openly support and invest in the $4 billion dam project.
Somalia’s federal government faces pressure to balance historic ties to Ethiopia with diplomatic relations with Egypt amid the dispute.