Addis Ababa(Mogadishu24)-President of the Federal Government of Somalia, Hassan Sh. Mohamud on Saturday revealed that the terrorist militant group of Al-Shabaab has managed to recruit between 6,000 to 8,000 new members since the signing of the MoU between Ethiopia and Somaliland during this new year 2024 alone.

“According to “very reliable” anonymous sources, Al-Shabaab has managed to recruit between 6,000 to 8,000 new members since the signing of the MoU”, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said in a press conference.

This development poses a significant security concern for Somalia and underscores the volatile regional dynamics following the Ethiopia-Somaliland agreement.

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has publicly criticized the port deal between Ethiopia and Somaliland, highlighting a significant downturn in diplomatic relations between Somalia and Ethiopia. The tension escalated following Ethiopia’s signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Somaliland on January 1, 2024, which granted Ethiopia 20 kilometers of sea access in exchange for recognizing the region. This move has been perceived by the Somali government as a direct violation of its sovereignty and an interference in its internal affairs.