Puntland has rejected the announcement by the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) regarding the closure of the Ethiopian Consulate in Garowe.
The Somali government, through the Council of Ministers, ordered for the closure of Ethiopian consulates in Garowe and Hargeisa.
Mahmud Aydid Dirir, the Puntland Minister of Information, stated that the federal government has no such jurisdiction.
Dirir led a team of Puntland officials in visiting Addis Ababa for a series of discussions with their senior Ethiopian counterparts.
Most likely, Somalia ordered the closure of the consulates following the visit to Addis Ababa after accusing Ethiopia yet again of disrespecting its sovereignty and territorial integrity.