Ethiopia clarified that it has deployed a Consul General, not an ambassador, to Somaliland, an autonomous region in Somalia that seeks international recognition as an independent state.
Teshome Shunde, who presented his credentials to Somaliland’s President Muse Bihi Abdi, says that he is pleased to start working in Hargeisa as a Consul General.
Shunde added that his appointment as a Consul General is consistent with Ethiopia’s foreign policy and its commitment to maintaining a one-Somalia policy, recognizing the Federal Government of Somalia as the only legitimate authority over the entire territory of Somalia, including Somaliland.
The announcement comes after earlier reports and discussions that raised questions about Ethiopia’s diplomatic stance and its implications for the relationship between Ethiopia, Somalia, and Somaliland.