This archive report was first published on 30 November 2019.
Just months after winning the Nobel Peace Prize, Ethiopia's reformist Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is facing accusations of interfering with the affairs of neighboring countries.
Two United Nations reports, released in November, accused Abiy of being lukewarm in the South Sudan peace process and fuelling fires of instability in Somalia, two countries he has been closely involved in as the chairman of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (Igad).
Abiy's government, along with Uganda and Kenya, was accused of being inconsistent in ensuring the implementation of a revitalized peace agreement in South Sudan, which was midwifed by Igad in September last year.
“Over the past year, the Igad and member states neighbouring South Sudan – specifically Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan and Uganda – have not demonstrated full and consistent engagement in the peace process,” a UN report said.
Abiy's government and its allies in Kenya and Uganda have refuted the charges, with Ethiopia's ambassador to Kenya, Meles Alem, stating that the allegations do not hold water.
“One of the pillars of Ethiopian foreign policy is non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries. That is our track record,” Meles said.
However, Somali politicians have accused Ethiopia of helping the federal government interfere with the states, with the Forum for National Parties (FNP) writing to Abiy telling him to stop “the unfortunate renewal of Ethiopia’s involvement in Somalia’s domestic politics”.
The FNP accused Ethiopia of deploying non-Amisom forces in the country, which they said could undermine the fragile state-building and nascent democratic processes in Somalia.
