Ethiopia Refutes Ill-Treatment Claims, Cites Somali President’s Guards Attempting Gun Entry at AU Summit

Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, Ambassador Meles Alem, addressed the recent accusation by Somalia claiming that Ethiopia attempted to block President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud from accessing the African Union (AU) summit in Addis Ababa.

Ambassador Meles Alem emphasized that the Ethiopian government has a responsibility to ensure the security of Heads of Government and State from all countries during their stay in Addis Ababa, especially during significant diplomatic events such as the AU summit. He explained that deploying security personnel for the well-being of guests is a standard practice in such situations.

“However, the President of Somalia refused to accept the security personnel deployed for him by the Government of Ethiopia,” Ambassador Meles stated during the briefing. He further clarified that the deployment of security personnel was aimed at ensuring the safety of all attending leaders.

Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Ambassador Meles Alem

The Spokesperson revealed that the Somali President’s security guards attempted to enter the African Union Headquarters armed with guns. In response, Ethiopian security personnel prevented their entry, highlighting the importance of maintaining a secure environment for all attendees.

“The President of Somalia acted contrary to the accustomed procedures for such big diplomatic events,” Ambassador Meles remarked, expressing disappointment at the Somali delegation’s refusal to cooperate with the security measures in place.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed Ethiopia’s commitment to hosting successful and secure diplomatic gatherings, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and adherence to established protocols for the safety of all participating leaders.