JidbaaleZerihun Teshome, a former TPLF associate who spied Amhara intellectuals in Ethiopian colleges during the Meles era, is now an analyst for Walta News, supporting the Prime minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed government and spreading official propaganda.
Recent interviews conducted at Walta TV Zerihun said that Somalia lacks sovereignty over northern Somalia and contended that the British granted them an autonomous entity known as “Somaliland.” He cited certain tribes that had agreements with the British colonizers, but he neglected to include the many others that rejected such agreements and resisted colonization.
Teshome said that Ethiopia is not infringing on Somalia’s sovereignty; rather, we are working in accord with “Somaliland.” He likened the situation to the dissolution of the Soviet Union, emphasizing that the recognition of “Somaliland” is not about creating a new nation but acknowledging its pre-existing independence.
Mr. Teshome said that only Mogadishu is contesting the MOU, whereas Garowe and Baidabo are not in opposition. Moreover, he mentioned that President Hassan Sheikh of Somalia is arming and equipping his clan for a specific purpose, and he characterized the existing government as only nominal in its function.
He accused Hassan Sheikh and the Somali governments of supporting and founding SSC-Khatumo. He also claimed that Al-Shabaab is involved in SSC-Khatumo’s creation, stated that ISIS is in the Sanaag highlands, and mentioned Daesh’s presence in Bosaso. The incorrect claim that Sool is located next to Ferfer, near the Ethiopian border, weakens the argument’s credibility due to geographical inaccuracies.
He stated that four former Ethiopian governments failed to annex the Somali Ocean. However, he believes this current government will achieve full sovereignty of the 20km region, allowing the Ethiopian navy to establish a permanent base. He emphasized that the people in “Somaliland”‘s desire supports their claim, making it easier to establish Ethiopian sovereignty over the land.
You can get the impression from listening to his speech that this former lackey of the TPLF has been persuaded to insult the Somali government and designate certain regions as terrorist areas. Ethiopians have been fighting for an ocean since their king Dawit II, and now they feel that Ethiopia can finally have access to the blue ocean by using these useful idiots. This is more like a pretext to find a way to start war, helping those weak and malnourished militias known as “somaliland,” which were known to be enemies’ collaborators for their grandfathers when the British invaded Somalia.
