Somali president labels Ethiopia 'enemy', urges Somalis to be prepared for war

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Somali president labels Ethiopia 'enemy', urges Somalis to be prepared for war

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) – In a fiery address at the presidential mosque on Friday, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of the Federal Government of Somalia declared Ethiopia as an 'enemy' and called on the people to engage in a jihad-st

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At the presidential mosque in Mogadishu, on Friday, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of the Federal Government of Somalia declared Ethiopia as an 'enemy'.

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) – In a fiery address at the presidential mosque on Friday, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of the Federal Government of Somalia declared Ethiopia as an 'enemy' and called on the people to engage in a jihad-style war against the neighboring nation.

Expressing evident anger and instability, President Hassan Sheikh directed his remarks towards government officials present in the mosque inside the Villa Somalia, focusing on the recent Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Ethiopia and Somaliland. This agreement grants Ethiopia access to the Red Sea by leasing a 20-kilometer stretch of the Somaliland coast.

Describing the agreement as a denial of Somali territorial sovereignty, President Hassan Sheikh drew parallels between this accord and Ethiopia’s refusal to recognize the legitimacy of the current government in Somalia.

He stated, "The government of Ethiopia said you are not sovereign and we will not ask you for the land nor we consult you. The government you made is not a government.”

President Hassan Sheikh called for Somalis to claim land in Ethiopia, specifically referring to the Ogaden region, known as Western Somali, currently under the Somali region in Ethiopia.

"If land is to be claimed, it is we who should claim a land in Ethiopia, not them claiming our land,” declared President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding Somali territorial interests.

AL-SHABAAB NO LONGER ENEMY

Addressing the perception of Al-Shabaab as an enemy, President Hassan Sheikh asserted that Al-Shabaab was no longer the primary foe of Somalis. He declared, "Two years ago, it is here where I announced that Al-Shabaab was the only enemy, but now I say Ethiopia is the enemy.”

He cautioned against being deceived by reports of Ethiopian engagement with Somali clans in borderland areas and rejected claims that Ethiopia had contributed to Somalia’s fight against Al-Shabaab.

"Nobody should deceive you by claiming they will liberate your land from Al-Shabaab. Don’t consider Al-Shabaab as your enemy; there is no other Somali who should be seen as an enemy to fellow Somalis,” President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud emphasized, urging unity and encouraging Al-Shabaab as fellow countrymen.

President Hassan Sheikh emphasized that only Somalis had been involved in the fight against Al-Shabaab the past two years.

In a nationalistic message to Somalis in the diaspora, President Hassan Sheikh urged them to stand up for the defense of their land against the "enemy that is coming.” He referenced the events of 2006 when Somalis abroad returned to join Islamist groups, waging jihad against Ethiopian invasion.

"I say to the brothers in the diaspora, when Somalia is in danger, you are the ones who used to stand up. You stood up before when the enemy dared us, especially those who are daring us today. You were united in the past, and that spirit persists today,” he added.

Addressing potential consequences, President Hassan Sheikh warned the world not to blame him if the situation becomes uncontrollable.

He stated, "I tell the world, do not blame us,” without specifying his audience, although it seemed directed at Western allies supporting his government.

He stated that Ethiopia will be blamed if the old enmity between the two countries re-surfaces.

"The day they [Ethiopia] take one action step, we’ll take two, three, four….they cannot blame us and the international community cannot blame us. They cannot say ‘why did the Somali government took this decision,’” he said at a mosque in Mogadishu.